W 

THE 



ANNALS 



OF 



BINGHAMTON 



AND 



OF THE COUNTRY CONNECTED WITH IT, 



FROM THE EARLIEST SETTLEMENT. 



BY J. B. WILKINSON. 



OPUS GRATUM POSTERITATI, 



BINGHAMTON : 

COOKE & DAVIS, PRINTERS. 

1840. 



p I 7.-^ 



i\ I- 



t ^" 



^'^'■ 



INTRODUCTION. 



For some number of years past it had been felt 
by some individuals of the place to be very desira- 
ble that, in some practicable and easy form, the 
most important incidents relating to the early set- 
tlement of the village should be preserved for the 
supposed satisfaction and utility of the rising and 
future generations. It was several times spoken^ 
of, and proposed to some of the earliest settlers, to 
make minutes of what they still remembered rela- 
tive to themselves and their compeers after they be- 
came identified with the settlement. 

In compliance, it is supposed, with such a request, 
many years ago Col. Rose made historical minutes 
to an important extent ; but unfortunately they were 
afterward lost, or, as it is believed, accidentally 
burnt ; so that nothing remained of them. In rela- 
tion to one important place within the section of 
country these Annals are designed to embrace, to 
wit : Elmira, Solomon Southwick, some few years 
since, wrote a pamphlet, entitled " Views of Elmira," 
in which he gives the first settlement of the neigh- 
borhood and the first laying out of that village, with 
the early stages of its progress. 

That which suggested the present enterprise, and 
which has resulted in the production of the following 



( ^^K 



IV INTRODUCTION. 



history, was the reading of the httle vohime, entitled 
" The Chronicles of Cooperstown. " The rising and 
already extended importance of the village of Bing- 
hamton and the country connected with it ; the very 
insulated condition of the country and consequently 
of the early settlers ; and also the romantic interest 
connected with the valley of these rivers, in conse- 
quence of its having been, for many geneVations, the 
residence and passage-way of many important tribes 
of Indians, rendered it quite certain that its history 
would not be without interest even to the present 
generation. Again, it appeared important that it 
should be written while some, at least, of the oldest 
l^ettlers remained upon the stage, that testimony 
might be had immediately from them— from their 
own knowledge, and not from the uncertain sources 
of tradition. 

It appeared, also, in prosecuting ^e work, to be 
a natural course to take up the country with which 
Binghamton is now, or has been, more or less inti- 
mately connected ; that events might appear in the 
order of their time, and according to their connec- 
tion ; and because, also, the two mutually render 
each other the more interesting. In doing this, we 
have embraced several other villages whose early 
settlement and other interesting items in their histo- 
ry are given ; two especially of which fall but little 
short of our own village in point of population and 
other considerations of importance. 

The two great sources of information are, philo. 
sophy and history. And while the former addresses 
itself almost entirely to the understanding, the latter 



INTRODUCTION. V 

does to all the faculties and susceptibilities of the 
soul ; to the understanding, the imagination, to the 
sympathies and to the heart. It is therefore, of the 
two, the more varied and extensive source. But 
there are two ijroperties in history which, when they 
unite, give it its highest interest. These are, anti- 
quity and a near relation of the subjects to the 
reader. The antiquity of a history is relative to it- 
self. The antiquity of the world is its creation and 
early peopling ; the antiquity of Europe is the set- 
tlement of Greece by Cadmus and others ; because 
it was^then it first became known to civilized people. 
And the antiquity of our own section of country is 
its first settlement, and so much of its Indian history 
as we can attain. And although the settlement took 
place but little over fifty years ago, it notwithstand- 
ing has nearly all the charm, or at least much of it, 
as it would have if it had taken place five hundred 
years ago ; because the mind of the younger por- 
tion of the present generation especially passes back 
to a period long before its recollection ; and compa- 
ring the present state of the country, with what it 
was in a state of nature, they spontaneously feel the 
power of the charm of which we speak. It is true, 
also, that the older a country becomes, the more inte- 
resting the history of its early settlement becomes, 
and the more venerable the persons are, who braved 
the hardships connected with it. 

The other interesting ingredient in history, to wit ; 
a near relation of its subjects to the reader, applies to 
the present history. Those who live within the sec- 
tion of country which it contemplates, will find 



# 



VI INTRODUCTION. 

themselves, or what is in effect nearly the same thing, 
they will find their fathers or ancestors, their rela- 
tion or acquaintance identified in it. It is the land 
of their nativity or adoption ; and the imagination 
and the affections throw a charm over it, which, with 
very many, will never be felt, to the same degree, for 
any other. 

How highly important it is, that these partialities 
be cultivated ; because it is upon the love of family 
and country, that all the social and virtuous affections 
are based. They are the earliest with children; 
and extended and refined, they form the philanthro- 
pist and the christian. And it is on these accounts, 
undoubtedly, that God has made them universal, 
strong and permanent laws of our nature. 

In the present History, the village of Binghamton 
is made the centre of interest ; and other places are 
treated of, in a great measure, according to their re- 
lation to it. Equal fidelity is observed, it is hoped, 
towards all ; but one is made the centre, that unity 
of design and prosecution might appear in the course 
of the work ; and also, that a full history, up to the 
present date, might be given of one village destined 
to great importance beyond its present, in the annals 
of future time. 

Though small, it will undoubtedly be a grateful 
work to posterity ; and the older the village and the 
country of which it treats becomes, the more will its 
pages be valued. 



THE ANNALS OP BINGHAMTON. 



CHAPTER I. 

The Village of Binghamton is pleasantly and ad- 
vantageously situated at the junction of the Susque- 
hannah and Chenango Rivers. As these rivers 
have Indian names, it may be proper to give their 
Indian etymology. The former signifies long and 
crooked river, and the latter pleasant river. The site 
upon which it stands is a part of an extensive area or 
plain, which lies upon the banks of the two rivers 
and between their approximation ; irregular in its 
boundaries and somewhat varied as to its surface. 
To measure the plain by the boundary of one's vision, 
from a moderate elevation, would give it about fifteen 
or twenty square miles. The mountains which lie a 
upon the north, divided, however, by the Chenango 
river, and those upon the south, have a greater prox- 
imity to the village than those which lie towards the 
other two points of the compass. These mountains 
do not rise high enough to become sublime ; but their 
easy slope, their rich and distinctive foliage, and their 
embossed surface, during the season of foliage, upon 
which the eye may rest with pleasure, give them a 
truly beautiful and picturesque appearance. Those 
towards the east and west, as well as those directly 



8 ANNALS OF 

north, "recede much farther from the eye, rearing 
numerous and rounded heads, lying lower upon the 
horizon the greater their distance, and giving intel- 
hgence, Hke way-marks, of the course of the two 
rivers. 

The surface is not an entire plain, but unequal, 
sufficiently to give variety to the view and health, 
fulness to the atmosphere. Rich and expansive 
meadows lie upon the banks of the Chenango, with 
extensive cultivated fields ; their rich and carpeted 
surface, in the spring and summer season, adds ano- 
ther beauty to the general scenery. Likewise up- 
on the banks of the Susquehannah, both above and 
below the village, are extensive grazing and arable 
fields. The soil of this great plat is truly rich and 
fertile, and generally under high cultivation ; and 
the great quantities of plaster now brought into the 
place for grinding and sale, will render it feasible 
as well as place the motive before them, for farm- 
ers and proprietors to render their lands as produc- 
tive as even the cupidity of men could wish. 

The soil here as well as the earth to a great 
depth is evidently alluvial ; that is, formed since 
the flood. The soil is somewhat loamy, but the 
earth beneath, to the distance of thirty or forty feet, 
is made up of sand and gravel, pebbles highly pol- 
ished, alternating in stratas, and sometimes mixed ; 
which have been deposited through the agency of 
some great waters flowing down the channels of 
these rivers. A probable conjecture, and one that 
is gaining ground among geologists, is, that the 
waters after the flood, in passing oflT from the con- 



« 



BINGHAMTON. 9 

tinents to the ocean, formed the channels of the 
most of the rivers now extant ; and in their mighty 
action and flow, they would naturally carry down 
with them toward the ocean and deposite on their 
way immense quantities of sand and fragmentary 
rocks, ten thousand times divided, which, by attri- 
tion, would finally become polished and smooth. 
In digging wells in the village and its vicinity, a 
very considerable depth has to be attained before 
water is found ; a very natural consequence, suppo- 
sing the earth, to this depth, has been brought from 
a distance and deposited. 

Another opinion, entertained by some writers on 
geology, is, that the chain of great lakes at the 
north is the bottom of a former great and inland^ 
sea ; that eventually this sea burst into boundaries 
and formed the St. Lawrence, the Delaware, the 
Susquehannah, and the Allegany rivers. If such 
a sea once existed, would not traces of its shores 
somewhei'e still be visible? 

The Chenango river, if it is proper here to speak 
of the two rivers at large, is about eighty or ninety 
miles in length, and has its rise in Madison county. 
It has a uniform descent of five or six feet to the 
mile, without any rapids, and flows through a beau- 
tiful and fertile country in nearly a direct course 
from north to south. The mountains which lie 
upon its course no where crowd its shores, so that 
the roads upon its banks are no where interrupted 
by them. Its waters move down undisturbed by 
rapids, or huge rocks, or sudden curves, increasing 
the depth of its channel until they are merged with 



10 ANNALS OF 

the waters ot the Susquehannah. In the latter part 
of its course, the banks are from fifteen to twenty- 
five feet high, sufficient to contain its annual and 
flooded tide with but little overflowing. It receives 
but one tributary stream of note, which is the Onon- 
daga, coming in at the Forks. 

The Susquehannah is ranked among the largest 
rivers in the United States. As its name imports, 
it is long and crooked, having its rise in Otsego 
Lake and meandering constantly, until it empties its 
waters into the Chesapeake Bay. The country, al- 
most in its entire course through which it passes, is 
so broken and mountainous, and the mountains so 
abrupt and irregular, that the river is kept every few 
miles turning its course. Though not so conven- 
ient for navigable purposes, its serpentine course 
adds greatly to its beauty and that of the country 
lying upon its banks. 

After leaving the Lake from which it takes its 
first waters, it runs, though meandering, in nearly 
a southerly direction for more than twenty miles. 
It then takes a south-westerly direction for twenty 
or twenty-five miles more. Here it receives the 
Unadilla from the north, bearing more southerly 
then to the curve of the Great Bend, a distance, 
measuring in a straight line, of twenty-five miles. 
After making the Great Bend it runs north-west to 
within five miles of Binghamton. Then nearly due 
west to Owego. From this place to Rushville di- 
rectly south-west. Then bearing nearer south to 
Tioga Point. From the Point it runs due south for 
eight or ten miles, then bearing south-east to Towan- 



BINGHAMTON. 11 

da, or the mouth of Towanda Creek. Its general 
course then, though serpentine, is directly south- 
east to Pittston ; here it changes its direction and 
runs as duly south-west through the valley of Wyo- 
ming, keeping this direction to Sunbury, a distance 
from the Lackawanna Gap of seventy miles ; then 
nearly south to Harrisburgh it flows in a south-east 
direction, without so much as curving, to the Ches- 
apeake Bay, a distance further of seventy or eighty 
miles. It receives its West Branch at Sunbury, 
and tlie Junietta empties its waters fifteen miles 
above Harrisburgh. 

There are small rapids or falls about two miles 
above Wilksbarre. There are falls also at Ber- 
wick of five or six feet, crossing the stream nearly 
at right angles. The falls at Cahnawaga, fourteen 
miles below Harrisburgh, should rather be called 
rapids, as they continue for about a mile, agitating 
the water greatly, and running with great velocity 
over rocks and shelving stratas. Raftmen enter 
these rapids at the lower point of an island called 
Cahnawaga Island, passing a strait not more than 
seventy feet wide. The water, throughout these 
rapids, roars like the agitated sea. The raftmen, 
however familiar with them, always enter these ra- 
pids with emotion, if not with fear and apprehension. 
A smooth navigation now succeeds for about four- 
teen miles, then shoals and eddies abound nearly to 
the mouth of the river. 

The Village of Binghamton is quite insulated ; 
being remote from any other large village. It is 
one hundred and fifty miles south-west of Albany, 



12 ANNALS OF 

ninety miles south of Utica, forty miles south south- 
west of Norwich, twenty-two miles east of Owego^ 
and seven miles from the Pennsylvania line. The 
great roads that lead to it, are the Newburgh and 
Milford road from the east, the Elmira and Owego 
from the west, the Montrose from the south, and the 
Utica road from the north. These roads, upon 
which there are lines of daily stages, lie upon both 
sides of the rivers ; although the north side of the 
Susquehannah and the east side of the Chenango are 
chiefly travelled. But the most important medium 
of access to the place, especially so far as transpor- 
tation is concerned, is the Chenango Canal, which 
communicates with the great western canal at Utica 
and terminates at Binghamton. This canal was 
begun in 1834, and finished in 1837. 

The village of Binghamton is the shire town of 
Broome county, which was set off from Tioga county 
in 1806, and called Broome, after John Broome, a 
worthy merchant of the city of New York, and at 
that time Lieutenant Governor of the State. 

The village for a series of years was known only 
by the name of Chenango Point, and received its 
present name from the name of William Bingham, 
a gentleman of large estate, formerly residing in 
Philadelphia. He was proprietor of a large patent 
of land lying on both sides of the Susquehannah, and 
was a munificent benefactor of this place, in its in- 
fant village state. Owning the land upon which it 
stands, he authorised his agent to dispose of the lots, 

f 

after they were laid out, at such reasonable prices, 
and upon such easy terms, as would strongly induce 



BINGHAMTON. 13 

emigrants to settle here. When it was determined 
that the village should be the county seat, he con- 
veyed to the county, gratuitously, a spacious lot for 
the Court House ; also, a lot for a public school. 

Although this distinguished patron might have 
been disposed — as unquestionably he was from his 
own liberal views, and also a regard to his own inte- 
rest as proprietor of the land — to do much for the 
place, still it is doubtful whether he would have done 
the half he actually did, had not General Whitney, 
or some other man of his liberal and extensive views, 
been his agent. To Gen. Whitney's sound policy, 
liberal views and foresight, therefore, is to beattribu- 
ted, chiefly, the rapid growth and prosperity of the 
village, as well as a large share of the JM^^^^'' ^^ 
many of its inhabitants. "' / .,^. 

As Mr. Bingham is so intimately connectj^d with 
the existence and progress of this place, having own- 
ed the soil, and been its enlightened and liberal 
benefactor, it may be proper to give a glance at the 
outlines of his history and character : He was a na- 
tive of England, and came to this country when a 
young man. It is believed he was liberally educa- 
ted in his own countr)^, and studied the law. This- 
is the impression of his agent. Gen. Whitney. Upon 
his arrival in America he went into the mercantile 
business in Philadelphia. What his wealth was at 
this time is not known. It is believed, however, 
that he acqtiired his immense fortune entirely 
through the force of his own talents and application 
to business. For mercantife business and specu- 
lation upon a large scale he became pre-eminently 



14 ANNALS OF ' 

qualified. He possessed the soundest judgment 
and a most capacious mind. And as he rose in 
business his knowledge became extensive with the 
great mercantile transactions of Europe and Ame- 
rica, and the state of their markets. He made it a 
point to keep pace with them all, that he might 
avail himself of all honorable advantages in the 
speculation of land or foreign trade. The latter 
was carried on entirely through the medium of his 
ships, which were sent to most of the great marts 
of the world. He was the merchant and banker in 
his domestic relations as well as in his habits. He 
married the daughter of Thomas M. Willing, of 
Philadelphia, who was, it will be remembered, the 
first President of the United States Bank. His two 
daughters married, the one Alexander, the other 
Henry Baring, of London, the distinguished bank- 
ers of that city. His partner in Baltimore was 
Robert Gilmore ; in Boston, John Richards. He 
was also merchantly connected with several houses 
in Europe. He was a member of Congress for 
some years while it was sitting in Philadelphia. He 
died in the city of London some time in the year 
1804. 

The first survey of the village was made in the 
year 1800, under the direction of Mr. Bingham, at 
which time the streets were regularly laid out at 
right angles. In 1808, a re-survey was made by 
Roswell Marshall; and in 1835, a full and com- 
plete survey was made by William Wentz, of the 
place. A map was made from this survey by F. B. 
Tower, in 1836. According to this last survey, the 



BINGHAMTON. 15 

village has an extent of about two miles, measured 
east and west, and of one mile and a half measured 
north and south. On the west side of the Chenan- 
go, the streets as they are laid out, run nearly east 
and west and north and south. Upon the east side 
of the river, where by far most of the village lies, 
the course of the streets, being determined by the 
course of the two rivers, besides an important bend 
in the Susquehannah, have more short streets, and 
more that meet and cross at angles somewhat 
oblique. This defect, if such it should be called, 
does not, however, mar the beauty of the place ge- 
nerally, or of the streets individually. 

On this eastern side of the Chenango, there are 
thirteen streets running nearly east and west, and 
ten or eleven running, though not so uniformly, 
north and south. There are in all forty-six street's. 
Court and Main-streets are full five rods wide ; the 
other streets are uniformly four rods in width, and 
the distance between from four to ten chains. 

Only about one-third of the full limits of the vil- 
lage is, at present, built up. The rest lies in cul- 
tivated lots. Almost all the dwellings have gardens 
attached to them ; and many of these gardens, be- 
longing to the dwellings of the more wealthy, are 
ample, and richly ornamented and laid out in good 
taste ; and, considering the newness of our coun- 
try, and especially of the place, with a profuse va- 
riety of flowers and shrubbery. 

It is difiicult to make any general and appropri- 
ate remarks with regard to the buildings, farther 
than to say, they are neat, convenient, and appear 



^ 



16 ' ANNALS OF 

well from the streets. There are but few poor 
houses, remarkably few for the size of the place. 
Again, it should be remarked, there are but few 
large and splendid private dwellings, or edifices of 
any kind. A medium appears to have been studied, 
and much convenience rather than much ornament. 
Still, it is evident, ornament has not been neglect- 
ed. As the buildings are nearly all new, or re- 
cently so, the proprietors have had the opportunity 
of gratifying and exhibiting their taste and skill in 
the more modern style of architecture, as well as 
giving an opportunity for the exercise of those qua- 
lities in their workmen, so far as the convenience 
necessary to be studied and their own resources did 
not limit them. But should it not be remembered, 
that a manifest and happy adaptation to conveni- 
ence is one of the properties of beauty? 

The Court House is situated in Court-street, on 
an eminence which gives it a commanding aspect 
from every part of the village. There are six 
church edifices in the place. An Episcopal Church 
edifice in Washington-street, a Methodist Chapel in 
Henry-street, a Presbyterian Church edifice, a Con- 
gregational and Baptist in Chenango-street, and a 
Catholic Cathedral on the west side of the river, in 
Le Roy-street. A large and elegant brick build- 
ing for the Broome County Bank, situated on the 
corner of Court and Chenango-streets, and nearly 
opposite the Court House. Two large and well- 
sustained public houses. The building that has been 
put up since the fire, intended to succeed the Broome 
County House, is of brick, and a monument truly 



BINGHAMTON. 17 

of enterprise and taste, if not of magnificence. Since 
its completion it has taken the name of the Phenix 
Hotel. Two other pubUc houses, though not so 
large, yet very respectable. Two others, in the 
suburbs of the village. Four ample piles of build- / 
ings for stores and various offices. Two printing 
offices, a paper issuing from each. The stores of 
the place, it may be remarked in general, are well 
sustained, there being a wide extent of country be- 
sides the village, depending on their merchandize. 
There are, in all, thirty stores. 

One foundry for castings, four saw-mills in the 
vicinity of the village, two flouring mills, one ex- 
tensive plaster-mill and one other now building, 
three large storage houses for the accommodation 
of the canal, one plow factory, one turning mill pro- 
polled by steam, carriage factories, though limited 
in the extent of their business compared to what 
they should be, and mechanics of various crafts. 

There are two female seminaries^ and one large 
school for boys, in which the classical and common 
schools are united, under two preceptors. 

After giving this outline of the village, reserving 
a further detail to a later part of the work, we will 
give the boundaries of the county^ together with a 
bare enumeration of the townships it contains, and 
close the present chapter. 

Broome county is bounded on the north by Cort- 
land and Chenango counties, on the east by Dela- 
ware county, on the south by the Pennsylvania line, 
and on the west by the county of Tioga. To trace 

the boundaries in another manner and a little more 
2 



i 



18 ' ANNALS OF 

« 

particularly, and beginning at the south-east cor- 
ner, it is bounded by the Delaware river in its great- 
est western extremity and curve, for six or eight 
miles ; then by a line running due north ten or 
twelve miles; then by a line running due west 
about the same distance, separating it from Che- 
nango county ; then due north five miles ; then due 
west ten or twelve miles to just beyond, westward, 
the Chenango river ; then north north-west fourteen 
or fifteen miles ; then due west again to the western 
boundary ; then by an irregular line running nearly 
south to the Pennsylvania line or southern bounda- 
ry, a distance of twenty-eight or thirty miles, and 
separating it from Tioga county; then east along 
the Pennsylvania line to the south-eastern extremity, 
a distance of thirty-six miles. 

The county contains eleven townships, viz: 
Sandford, Windsor, Colesville, Chenango, Lisle, 
Union, Vestal, Conklin, Barker, Triangle and Nan- 
ticoke. 



CHAPTER II. 

Neither the Village nor the County of its locality 
xjlaims any higher antiquity of history than the pe- 
riod of the Revolutionary War. Prior to this, it 
appears to have been known to our white popula- 
tion only on maps and charts, as forming constit- 
uent parts of New- York and Pennsylvania States. 
"^^ The foot of the white man is not known to have trod- 

den over these vallies and mountains, except pro- 



BINGHAMTON. 19 

bably as Indian prisoners, until General Sullivan, 
with his army, marched into the State, on his expe- 
dition against the Indians. 

It would be very gratifying to our natural love of 
wlmt is ancient and remote, if we could have the his- 
tory of our particular section, as well as of the coun- 
try generally, though we should do this by the un- 
certain vestiges of Indian tradition, to a more re- 
mote period of antiquity. The mind naturally in- 
quires, what was the appearance of these mountains 
and plains and rivers in the time of the Crusades ? 
Have they undergone any material change, except 
in the wax and wane of their forest trees and her- 
bage, since the dark ages of Europe ? What race of 
people were their tenants when Alfred the Great 
gave laws to his rustic subjects ? Although it is at 
present beyond human knowledge to solve these 
questions, still the reader may indulge his imagina- 
tion and say, without conjecture, that at these pe- 
riods, and even long before, the sun, when he rose 
unbeclouded, burnished these mountain tops, and 
let down his rays upon these vallies. Here shadows, 
whether of the mountain or of the lofty pine, turned 
from west to east in precise obedience to the sun's 
own progress and elevation. Here too was expe- 
rienced by the beasts of the forest, and, more than 
probably, by man, either savage or civilized, the 
vicissitudes of the seasons : the blasts of winter, 
the budding of spring, the alternate zephyrs and sul- 
try stillness of summer, and the reddening of the 
leaves of autumn. 

Upon the site of Binghamton a brigade of Ame- 



20 ANNALS OF 

rican troops under the command of General James 
Clinton, the father of the celebrated Dewitt Clinton, 
encamped for one or two nights, on their way to 
join another large division of the American army, 
destined against the Indians of this State, under the 
command of Gen. Sullivan. 

It cannot but be gratifying to those whom Provi- 
dence has placed here as residents, and who have 
consequently located here their partialities and their 
strongest patriotic feehngs, that the place is con- 
nected, even in this incidental manner, with the re- 
volutionary war ; that the soldiers of that war once 
trod over this place ; that upon its sod reisted their 
arms and their wearied bodies ; that here the offi- 
cers concerted measures, which, in their achieve, 
ment, have helped to fill out the history of that great 
event. There is a sufficient connection between 
this expedition and the country under contempla- 
tion, to justify briefly its history ; especially be- 
cause it was at that time the country became first 
known to the whites. 

It should be understood, therefore, that the Indi- 
ans of this State, being more numerous than of any 
other of the states, were capable of forming, and 
did actually form, a powerful ally to our already 
powerful enemy. In the commencement of hos- 
tilities between the mother country and the colonies, 
the Six Nations, as they were commonly called, 
whose limits Were chiefly within this State, had sol- 
emnly promised to the colonics neutrality. This 
pledge was given by their chiefs and members ge- 
nerally, at a great council held at the German 



BINGHAMTON. 21 

Flats, and called for this specific purpose. Pro- 
bably the Indians would have kept their promise 
inviolate, had not British vassals, in the form of 
commissioners, taken extraordinary pains to induce 
tliem to take up arms against us. Pursuant to this, 
they invited a council to be held at Oswego, where 
they informed the chiefs that the white people of the 
colonies had risen up against their good king and 
were about to rob him of a great part of his posses- 
sions ; and that, therefore, they wished the assist- 
ance of themselves and their warriors in subduinir 
them. They promised, moreover, ample reward 
for their services. The chiefs then informed the 
commissioners, of the treaty and promise of neutral- 
ity they had only a year before made with the colo- 
nies, and of their disposition to adhere to it. The 
commissioners then addressed their cupidity and 
their passion for liquor, telling them how plenty rum 
should be, and made a display of their gifts. These 
appeals, added to their natural enmity of the whites, 
succeeded in bringing them into compliance. They 
signed a treaty, in which they promised to take up 
arms against the rebels until they should be sub- 
dued. 

These Indians of the Six Nations, with the excep- 
tion of the Oneidas, now thirst, with a keener appe- 
tite than ever, for the blood of the white man; they 
are impatient to commence hostilities ; they muster 
tlieir forces and ui-ge their way to the nearest and 
most exposed white settlement. Their attacks upon 
Cautega, Cherry Valley, upon several places on the 
Hudson river, and still more notedly, upon Minisink, 



22 ANNALS OF 

of Orange county, and Wyoming, of Pennsylvania, 
are well remembered. 

Congress found it necessary to send a strong 
armed force into the heart of their country, and, by 
retorting their own mode of warfare, as far as prac- 
ticable, to exterminate them. They therefore ap- 
pointed an army of between tour and five thousand 
men, with Gen. Sullivan in chief command, with 
orders to march through the wilderness part of 
Pennsylvania, into those parts of the state of New- 
York, inhabited by these hostile tribes. This army 
consisted principally of three lines, or divisions. 
The New Jersey line, commanded by Gen. Max- 
well ; the New England line, commanded by Gen. 
Hand ; and the New-York line, commanded by Gen. 
Clinton. The former two lines marched from Eliza- 
bethtown, of New Jersey, by the way of Easton, 
thence to Wyoming, and then up the Susquehan- 
nah to Tioga Point. 

It is interestingly stated in the history of Wyo- 
ming, that Gen. Sullivan with his army departed 
from Wyoming on the 31st of July, and moved up 
the river, on the east side. The baggage of the ar- 
my occupied 120 boats and 2000 horses ; the for- 
mer were arranged in regular order upon the river, 
and were propelled against the stream by soldiers 
with setting-poles, having a sufficient guard of troops 
to accompany them. The horses which carried the 
provisions for the daily subsistence of the troops, 
passed along the narrow Indian path in single file, 
and formed a line extending about six miles. Tho 
whole scene formed a military display at once beau- 



BINGHAMTON. 23 

tiful and imposing ; and calculated to make a for- 
midable impression upon the minds of those parties 
of savages which lurked upon the mountains, from 
which all these movements might be visible. 

The latter division marched from Schenectady, 
up the Mohawk, to Fort Plain. From this place 
tliey struck to the outlet of Otsego Lake. Through 
this part of their march they were obliged to cut 
tlieir entire way. Traces of this army road, it is 
said, are still to be seen. Here Clinton ordered a 
dam to be thrown across the outlet ; and thus by 
raising the water of the lake he was enabled, when 
the dam was broken away, to transport down the 
river in the flood, his ordnance, stores and troops. 
Delayed by the time taken in cutting the road we 
have just mentioned, and constructing the dam, he 
could not arrive at Tioga, where he was to join 
Sullivan, so soon as was expected. 

General Sullivan, upon arriving at Tioga Point, 
found the Indians had collected there in considera- 
ble numbers, with whom also he had some incon- 
siderable skirmishes. It will not be thought im- 
proper here to introduce an anecdote of a veteran 
soldier of this campaign. He is an aged man, now 
living in Ridgebury, Pa., a httle off from the valley 
of the Chemung, but within our historic range. He 
lives to tell the story of his warlike deeds, which 
were many indeed, and brave. He enlisted into his 
country's service when only about seventeen years 
of age, in the commencement of the war, and served 
bravely through it. While the army was passing 
up the river from Wyoming, a little above Towanda, 



S4 ANNALS OF 

when it was nearly or quite dusk, Stiles, for this is 
his name, with three other men, Andrew Burnet, 
of Whippany, New Jersey, one Murphey and one 
Butler were together, detached somewhat from the 
main army. They heard a noise upon their left 
hand, which they were about to let pass as the hoot- 
ing of owls. But Murphey stopped his comrades, 
and said, in a low tone, these are not the noises of 
owls ; there are Indians near us. Upon this he 
proposed that his three companions remain where 
they were, but concealed, while he should go back 
some distance and rise the hill in a direction to- 
wards the hootings they had heard. The device 
succeeded ; for the little noise made by him in rising 
the hill, the Indians, who proved to be three in num- 
ber, hearing and not being able to discern any ob- 
ject, their fears were the greater ; theyran precipi- 
tately down almost upon the three men that lay con- 
cealed. These singled each his Indian, fired, and 
killed the three. 

There is also living in the neighborhood of this 
village, Binghamton, on the opposite side of the 
Susquehannah, and about five miles below, near 
Willow Point, a Mr. William Weston, an aged man, 
whose name and deeds of revolutionary valor de- 
serves a place on record. He was in this expedi- 
tion against the Indians. He says the army march- 
ed up from Wyoming on the east side of the river, 
and at, or near, Towanda they crossed over to the 
west side ; and that in crossing here, and also in 
crossing the mouth of the Chemung, opposite Tioga 
Point, they were obliged to ford the rivers ; and 



BINGHAMTON. 25 

especially at the latter place the water was nearly 
up to their arm-pits. Each soldier was ordered to 
take and keep hold of his file-leader's shoulder, that 
the current might not break their order. 

Mr. Weston came from England to this country 
when about fourteen years old, on board a man-of- 
war, a ship of the line, sent to guard the port of Bos- 
ton immediately after the tea, in that harbor was 
thrown overboard. But being young, he was suf- 
fered to leave the vessel at the solicitation of an 
uncle of his, who was then living in Boston. At the 
commencement of hostilities he joined the Ameri- 
can army, and served as a fifer for one or two years. 
After this he entered the^ ranks with gun and bayo- 
net, and served throughout the war. He was in 
most of the important battles : in the battle of Long 
Island, of Monmouth, of Brandywine, and of York 
Town. 

Although now very aged, rising eighty years, Mr. 
Weston retains, to a remarkable degree, his health 
and strength of constitution, and also his melitai 
faculties. He lives retired back in the woods which 
bound the river plane, and seems contented, so far 
as great sacrifices contribute to this happy state of 
mind, in the reflection that he has served his coun- 
try in arms, while in her great and successful strug- 
gle for liberty ; though he receive not either its 
wealth or its honors. 

The name of one more patriot highly deserves a 
place in tliese Annals, and in this part of them. Let 
his memory be cherished and blessed by the living, 
for he is lately in his grave ! Mr. John Rush, who 



26 ANNALS OF 

died the past autumn, and who dwelt retiredly also 
in the forest neighborhood of his brother soldier, 
Mr. Weston, was also in Sullivan's expedition. He 
was a relative of the distinguished Dr. Rush, of 
Philadelphia. He was a man, in his day, evidently 
of more than ordinary strength of understanding. 
His high and well-turned forehead betokened the 
same, as well as a man of great benevolence. He 
was known to several in the village ; and by those 
who estimate character according to worth, he was 
highly esteemed, and even venerated. He, with 
his fellow-in-arms, Mr. Weston, were in the detach- 
ment of men that were sent from Tioga to meet 
Gen. Clinton, on his way down. He was a native 
of New Jersey, and belonged to that line. Serving 
throughout the war, it was his fortune to be in all 
the important battles of the revolution. During a 
considerable part of the war he was one of General 
Washington's body-guard. A higher compliment 
could not have been paid to his fidelity, even by 
Washington himself. 

He was set as one of the guard over Maj. Andre-, 
soon after his capture. Having received strict or- 
ders not to suffer any thing to be moved or med- 
dled with in the prisoner's apartment, he forbid on 
one occasion Maj. Andre himself from taking some 
crackers from a cask that stood in that part of the 
barrack. When forbidden by Mr. Rush, he said, 
"Do you intend to starve me too?" Mr. Rush replied, 
"if hungry, you must make it known to the officer 
of the guard." 

He was one appointed to escort Lord Cornwallis, 



BINGHAMTON. 27 

after his memorable surrender, to the American 
camp. The escort found him in a cave, and writing. 
It was an artificial cave which the British comman- 
der had excavated during the protracted engagement, 
to screen himself from the bombs of the enemy. 

Upon arriving at Tioga Point, Gen. Sullivan con- 
ceived it important to send a detachment immedi- 
ately to General Clinton, to inform him where the 
main army was, and where it would wait his union. 
He therefore sent a sergeant and eight men to the 
outlet of Otsego Lake, where he supposed Clinton by 
this time was. These men kept up the Susquehan- 
nah to the mouth of the Chenango river, then up 
that river to the Forks. They then struck nearly 
an eastern course to the outlet. Job Stiles, just 
spoken of, was one of the number. He says they 
were about, or nearly, two weeks in performing this 
journey ; that in consequence of a continued and dren- 
ching rain, which continued nearly all this time, their 
provisions were all spoiled, which obliged them to 
throw them away, and depend upon the roots and ber- 
ries of the forest, and what game they might chance 
to meet with. These all proved but scanty sources. 
They came near to famishing. One of ther number 
they were obliged to leave near the Forks, in con- 
sequence of his sickness and exhaustion. They 
built him a little cabin and a fire, and, painful as it 
was, they were obliged to leave him to his fate. 

The letters for Clinton, which were two, they 
kept rolled in two handkerchiefs during the satur- 
ating rain, and under their arm-pits. One carried 
by the sergeant and the other by Stiles. When 



28 ANNALS OF 

they arrived at Clinton's camp, and even for days 
before, they were so enfeebled they could scarcely 
travel. When the generous and provident com- 
mander learned how long they had been without 
food, he ordered them into a tent near his own, with- 
out saying a word about provision. Shortly a little 
soaked biscuit, and but a little too, was sent them. 
They were kept upon a limited quantity of this and 
a little soup for some days, ere they were allowed 
to eat to their satisfaction. They came down the 
river on board the floats to this place, and then 
having landed they hurried to Tioga, their best way. 

In consequence of these messengers not return- 
ing so soon by many days as was expected, Sullivan 
could hear nothing from Clinton ; and becoming 
uneasy under the delay occasioned by the non-arrri- 
val of the other division, he detached between three 
and four hundred men to meet it. This detach- 
ment came up the river on the Owego side, and 
met Clinton's division about half way between 
Union and Binghamton. According to Mr. Rush's 
statement, the detachment came up as far as Bing- 
hamton, for, he says, he encamped upon its ground. 

The discrepancy between Mr. Rush and those 
who say the detachment came no father than about 
mid- way between the place of Union and that of this 
village, may be reconciled by supposing a portion 
of the detachment came up as far as this village, 
and, according to Mr. Rush, still farther. Mr. 
Rush remembered the point of these two rivers dis- 
tinctly ; and said there were several Indian wig- 
wams upon it at the time, but no Indians to be seen. 



BINGHAMTON. 29 

That there was corn growing upon the Island just 
above the white bridge, which they destroyed. 

CHnton, on his way down, destroyed the Indian 
settlement at Oquaga, and, more than probable, one 
or more villages of their's on the Chenango river. 
There were the vestiges of a recent village on the 
bank of this river, about three miles above the vil- 
lage of Binghamton, on the west side, and a little 
below Captain Leonard's present residence ; visible 
to tiie first white settlers. The inference is, that 
tliey were the remains of an Indian village destroy- 
ed by Clinton. 

After the detachment from Tioga met with the 
New York division, the whole moved down the ri- 
ver, having one or two skirmishes with parties of 
Indians who appeared now and then upon the adja- 
cent hills. Nearly opposite Judge Stoddard's, on 
tlie south side of the river, have been found one or 
more cannon balls. These, almost to a certainty, 
were thrown from their cannon, as several dischar- 
ges were made, particularly at this place and near 
Union. A little lower down the river, also, from 
Judge Stoddard's, and on the north side, on JohnD. 
Mersereau's farm, there is still to be seen the re- 
mains of an Indian fort, which, according to tradi- 
lion, was thrown up at this time. Evident marks 
also of musket shot upon the trees near the shore 
here, which were very visible when the country 
was first settled. A little east of Union, upon what 
'is called Round Hill, there was quite a skirmish. 
The Indians appear to have collected here to a con- 
siderable number, with probably the design of giv- 



30 ANNALS OF 

ing battle, judging of the number and strength of 
their enemy from the comparatively small number 
they saw pass up the river. But on the return, this 
comparatively small number was converted into a 
formidable army. They were therefore far from 
venturing an engagement, and at the discharge of 
the cannon, they fled precipitately over the hill to- 
wards the river ; one Indian, some say two, was it aa 
perceived, in the general flight, fell from a projected 
rock or precipice and broke his neck. They then 
proceeded down the river to Tioga Point, without 
any thing further remarkably occurring. 

The whole army destined for- this invasion, being 
now together, marched for the head of the Seneca 
Lake, proceeding up the Chemung river on the east 
side. The Indians who were engaged in the battle 
at Wyoming, at the approach of winter retired to 
the neighborhood of Oquaga and Unadilla, with the 
celebrated Brant at their head. Capt. Brant, who 
was never found idle, was busy in preparing for the 
next summer's campaign ; so that at the time of this 
expedition, the Indians, with their tory allies who 
had wintered in Canada, were never better prepa- 
red to meet their foe, having nearly their entire 
strength concentrated in this army, with high spirits, 
from the signal victory gained the year before at 
Wyoming. Their number was about 800 Indians 
aiid 200 tories, under the united command of Captain 
Brandt and Colonel John Butler, a British officer. 

The Indians, it is said, when they first heard that 
a large army was making its way into their wilder- 
ness to lay waste their fields and dwellings, laughed 



BINGHAMTON. gl 

at the supposed impossibility of so large a body of 
men either making an ingress into their dense wil- 
derness or of finding out their settlements. They 
were not probably aware that the American army 
had, as guides, some of their own brethren of the 
Oneidas. One in particular was chosen, a brave 
and intelligent Oneida, to guide their marches and 
to lead them from settlement to settlement. He 
served them in this capacity through their march 
out ; but just before they had terminated their out- 
ward course, he was taken prisoner with another 
Oneida, in a skirmish near Honeoy, now called 
Richmond, in Ontario county, and cruelly put to 
death. 

Flanking parties were kept out both by the ene- 
my and our army, to watch each other's movements, 
and to prevent surprise. When they had moved up 
tlie river from Tioga about twelve or fourteen miles, 
and within six miles of Newtown, nearly opposite 
Wellsburgh, they came to an engagement. It was 
severely fought for a while, when an attempt was 
made to surround the enemy. A high mountain 
being on one side, and the river upon the other, con- 
stituted a favorable opportunity. Gen. Hand with 
his brigade was therefore ordered to file off to the 
right, and pass around the mountain and come down 
to the river above the enemy. But Brandt observ- 
ing this manoeuvre, ordered a retreat, which, being 
timely effected, he saved himself. Brandt and But- 
ler retired about a mile and a half farther up the 
river, and made another stand. This was near to 
what is now called Baldwin's Tavern. Here they 



32 ANNALS OF 

threw up a temporary breast-work during the night, 
and waited for their enemy. Upon the enemy's 
arriving a battle took place here also. The Indi- 
ans were completely routed, and many of them kill- 
ed. They retreated still up the river, and upon the 
present site of Elmira, or rather a few chains below ; 
they threw up a hasty redoubt, vestiges of which 
still remain. Whether there was any skirmishing 
here does not appear. The Indians, with their al- 
lies, retired farther up the river, ten or twelve miles 
above Newtown, at a place called the Narrows, 
where they made a determinate stand. Our army 
still pursued them to this place. A furious and 
bloody engagement took place here ; the Indi- 
ans and tories fighting, as if it were their last 
forlorn hope. They met with a great defeat 
here too. 

Their slain was nearly without number ; and the 
sid6s of the rocks towards the river were literally 
drenched in blood. The Indians threw their dead 
into the river, and made their escape with great ter- 
ror and precipitation. They undoubtedly thought, 
tliat at this narrow pass, they would, with the great- 
est prospect of success, be able to stop the further 
progress of their enemy. They were in hopes, also, 
of diverting them into a course which would lead 
them away from their settlements. 

After this bloody engagement at the Narrows, 
SuUivan led back the army to Newtown. From 
this place he lays his course directly to the head of 
Seneca Lake. Every night now, when the army 
encamped, he ordered cannon to be fired, that the 



BINGHAMTON. 33 

Indians might ba apprised of the rapidity of his 
marches. 

Brandt and Butler, with their remaining veterans, 
seem to have kept at a cautious distance from our 
troops, hanging upon their rear or flanks, and watch- 
ing their movements. SuUivan appears not to have 
met with the enemy again until he came to the out- 
let of the lake, the shore of which he had been fol- 
lowing from its head. One' mile and a half north 
of the outlet he found the capital of the Senecas, 
Kanadesagi. The Indians had, even to the least 
child, retreated from the place, leaving, however, a 
white child oifour years old, according to another 
statement seven years old, behind. The child was 
taken into the care of an officer, who, on account of 
ill health, was not on duty. The officer took the 
little prisoner home to his residence on, or near, the 
North river, and adopted it into his family. The 
town was entirely destroyed, with the fruits of their 
fields. From near this place were sent back to 
Tioga Point a captain, and fifty sick. The army 
now took a western direction, and after marching 
twelve or fifteen miles, came to the outlet of Canan- 
daigua Lake, where they destroyed another town, 
called after the lake, of about twenty houses. Some 
of the houses had neat chimnevs, and were otherwise 
built superior to ordinary wigwams. From Canan- 
daigua the army proceeded to Honeoy, which they 
destroyed ; and passing by Hemlock Lake, they 
came to the head of Connessius Lake, where the 
army encamped for the night, on the ground which 

is now called Henderson's Flats, 
3 



34 ANNALS OF 

Soon after the army had encamped, at the dusk 
of evening, a party of twenty-one men, under the 
command of Lieut. WilHam Boyd, was detached 
from the rifle corps, which was commanded by the 
celebrated Morgan, and sent out for the purpose of 
reconnoitering the ground near the Genesee river, 
at a place now called Williamsburgh, at a distance 
from the place of encampment of about seven miles, 
and under the guidance of a faithful Indian pilot. 
The place was then the site of an Indian village ; 
and it was apprehended that the Indians and ran- 
gers, as their allies were called, might be there, or 
in its vicinity. 

When the party arrived at Williamsburgh, they 
found that the Indians had very recently left the 
place, as the fires in their huts were still burning. 
The night was so far spent when they got to the 
place of their destination, that the gallant Boyd, con- 
sidering the fatigue of his men, concluded to remain 
quietly where he was, near the village, sleeping 
upon their arms, till the next morning, and then to 
despatch two messengers with a report to the camp. 
Accordingly, a little before daybreak, he sent two 
men to the main body of the army with information 
that the enemy had not been discovered, but were 
supposed to be not far distant, from the fires they 
found burning the evening before. 

After day-light, Lieut. Boyd and his men cautious- 
ly crept from the place of their concealment, and 
upon getting a view of the village, discovered two 
Indians lurking about the settlement. One of whom 
was immediately shot and scalped by one of the ri- 



BINGHAMTON. 35 

flemen, by the name of Murphy. Lieut. Boyd — sup- 
posing now that if there were Indians near they 
would be aroused by the report of the rifle, and pos- 
sibly by a perception of what had just taken place, 
the scalping of the Indian — thought it most prudent 
to retire and make his best way back to the main 
army. They accordingly set out, and retraced the 
steps they had taken the evening before. 

On their arriving within about one mile and a half 
of the main army, they were surprised by the sud- 
den appearance of a body of Indians, to the amount 
of five hundred, under the command of Brandt, and 
the same number of rangers, commanded by the in- 
famous Butler, who had secreted themselves in a ra- 
vine of considerable extent, which lay across the 
track that Lieut. Boyd had pursued. These two 
leaders of the enemy had not lost sight of the Ame- 
rican army since their appalling defeat at the Nar- 
rows above Newtown, though they had not shown 
themselves till now. With what dismay they must 
have witnessed the destruction of their towns and 
the fruits of their fields, that marked the progress 
of our army ! They dare not, however, any more 
come in contact with the main army, whatever should 
bo the consequence of their forbearance. 

Lieut. Boyd and his little heroic party, upon dis- 
covering the enemy, knowing that the only chance' 
for their escape would be by breaking through their 
lines, an enterprize of most desperate undertaking, 
made the bold attempt. As extraordinary as it 
may seem, the first onset, though unsuccessful, was 
made without the loss of a man on the part of the 



36 ANNALS OF 

heroic band, though several of the enemy were 
killed. Two attempts more were made, which were 
equally unsuccessful, and in which the whole party 
fell, except Lieut. Boyd and eight others. Boyd 
and a soldier by the name of Parker, were taken pri- 
soners on the spot ; a part of the remainder fled, and 
a part fell on the ground apparently dead, and were 
overlooked by the Indians, who were too much en- 
gaged in pursuing the fugitives to notice those who 
fell. 

When Lieut. Boyd found himself a prisoner, he 
solicited an interview with Brandt, preferring, it 
seems, to throw himself upon the clemency and fidel- 
ity of the savage leader of the enemy, rather than 
trust to his civilized colleague. The chief, who 
was at that moment near, immediately presented 
himself, when Lieut. Boyd, by one of those appeals 
and tokens which are known only by those who 
have been initiated and instructed in certain myste- 
ries, and which never fail to bring succor to a dis- 
tressed brother, addressed him as the only source 
from which he could expect respite from cruel pun- 
ishment or d oath. The appeal was recognized, and 
Brandt immediately, and in the strongest language, 
assured him that his life should be spared. 

Boyd and his fellow-prisoner were conducted im- 
mediately by a party of the Indians to the Indian 
village, called Beardstown, after a distinguished 
chief of that name, on the west side of the Genesee 
river, and in what is now called Leicester. After 
their arrival at Beardstown, Brandt, being called on 
sei'vice which required a few hour's absence* left 



BINGHAMTON. 37 

{hem in the care of Col. Butler. The latter, as 
soon as Brandt had left them, commenced an inter- 
rogation, to obtain from the prisoners a statement 
of the number, situation and intentions of the army 
under Sullivan ; and threatened them, in case they 
hesitated or prevaricated in their answers, to deliver 
them up immediately to be massacred by the Indi- 
ans ; who, in Brandt's absence, and with the en- 
couragement of their more savage commander, But- 
ler, were ready to commit the greatest cruelties. 
Relying probably upon the promises which Brandt 
had made them, and which he most likely intended 
to fulfil, they refused to give Butler the desired in- 
formation. Upon this refusal, burning with revenge? 
Butler hastened to put his threat into execution. 
He delivered them to some of their most ferocious 
enemies, among which the Indian chief Little Beard 
was distinguished for his inventive ferocity. In 
this, that was about to take place, as well as in all 
the other scenes of cruelty that were perpetrated in 
his town. Little Beard was master of ceremonies. 
The stoutest heart quails under the apprehension of 
immediate and certain torture and death ; where too, 
there is not an eye that pities, nor a heart that feels. 
The suffering Lieut, was first stripped of his clothing? 
and then tied to a sapling, when the Indians menaced 
his life by throwing their tomahawks at the tree di- 
rectly over his head, brandishing their scalping 
knives around him in the most frightful manner, and 
accompanying their ceremonies with terrific shouts 
of joy. Having punished him sufficiently in this 
way, they made a small opening in his abdomen, 



98 ANNALS OF 

took out an intestine, which they tied to a sapling, 
and then unbound him from the tree, and by scour- 
ges, drove him around it till he had drawn out the 
whole of his intestines. He was then beheaded, 
and his head was stuck upon a pole, with a dog's 
head just above it, and his body left unburied upon 
the ground. 

Thus perished William Boyd, a young officer of 
heroic virtue and of rising talents ; and in a manner 
that will touch the sympathies of all who read the 
story of his death. His fellow-soldier, and fellow- 
sufferer, Parker, was obliged to witness this moving 
and tragical scene, and in full expectation of passing 
the same ordeal. 

According, however, to our information, in rela- 
tion to the death of these two men, which has been 
obtained incidentally from the Indian account of it, 
corroborated by the discovery of the two bodies by 
the American army, Parker was only beheaded. 

The main army, immediately after hearing of the 
situation of Lieutenant Boyd's detachment, moved 
towards Genesee river, and finding the bodies of 
those who were slain in the heroic attempt to 
penetrate the enemy's line, buried them in what is 
now the town of Groveland, near the bank of Beard's 
Creek, under a bunch of wild plum trees, where the 
graves are to be seen to this day. 

Upon their arrival at the Genesee river, the army 
crossed over, scoured the country for some distance 
upon the river, burnt the Indian villages on the Gen- 
esee flats, particularly the capital of the Genesee 
country, consisting of 120 houses, with vast quanti- 



BINGHAMTON. 39 

ties of corn and other productions of their fields. 
The army encamped around the town, and tarried 
long enough to gather the productions of their ex. 
tended plains into their wigwams, and to destroy 
both, by setting the buildings on fire. 

While engaged in this work of devastation, or 
before they commenced a return, a white woman 
was accidentally found, who had been taken prisoner 
at Wyoming. She was found by one of the senti- 
nels a little before sunrise, in a most forjorn condi- 
tion, with only a ragged blanket around her. She 
had concealed herself for many days, and had lived 
this whole time upon only three ears of corn. When 
first discovered she only begged her life, saying, 
"do not shoot me." As soldiers are noted for their 
chivalry, so in this instance, the rustic sentinel, with 
becoming feeling and delicacy, led her, trembling 
and mortified, to Col. Butler. Probably she imme- 
diately let it be known that she was taken prisoner 
at Wyoming, and was therefore brought to Colonel 
Butler as one most likely to recognize her. He 
was himself from that place, and commanded at the 
great massacre there. She was found to be a Mrs. 
Lester, whose husband fell on the day of that bloody 
engagement. She was made comfortable in the 
camp, her fears allayed, and treated with suitable 
respect. She was brought by the army back to 
Wyoming. 

So entire was the destruction of the cattle, grain 
and fruit of the region around this capital, that the 
Indians upon their return after tha army had left, 
according to the statement of Mrs. Jimison, who vva« 



40 ANNALS OF 

herself among the Indians and sharing their fortunes, 
that there was not left a mouthful of any kind of 
sustenance, not even enough to keep a child one day 
from perishing with hunger. 

The Indians by this time had become so alarmed 
lest an entire destruction should be made of them, 
that, in leaving their capital at Sullivan's approach, 
they sent their women and children far on towards 
Buffalo, accompanied with other Indians, while a 
part only remained secreting themselves to watch 
the movements of their enemy. 

Sullivan, having now accomplished the destruc- 
tion of all the Indian settlements towards the 
West, so far as he could learn, determined to com- 
mence his march back. The army re-crossed the 
Genesee river, and pursued the same path back to 
Geneva, and indeed to Tioga Point and Wyoming, 
that they had pursued in coming. At Honeoy a 
number of horses, worn down with service, on their 
way out, had been left at large in the woods to re- 
cruit; which on their return could not be found. In 
consequence of this, a considerable amount of the 
army's baggage must have been left, had not many 
of the officers, entitled to ride, given up their horses 
and walked ; among whom was the commander-in- 
chief himself. An illustrious instance of dignified 
condescension, and of moral beauty. 

On their wav back, at Canandaigua, Sullivan de- 
tached Col. Butler, of Wyoming, with five hundred 
riflemen, to Cayuga Lake to destroy the settlements 
on that Lake. Lieut. Col. Dearborn was also de. 
tached, with two hundred men, to the south side of 



BINGHAMTON. 41 

the Lake, to execute the same work upon the Indian 
settlements there. South and east of Catharine they 
appear to have passed a swamp on their way out, 
which they much dreaded on their return. This 
swamp, which was itself called Catharine, as well as 
the present town of that name which occupies the 
site of the swamp, was called after a celebrated 
French woman who had married an Indian husband, 
and who was living in or near this place at the time 
the army was marching out. She was of a mascu- 
line Amazonian temperament, and having united her 
interest and feelings with the Indians, she showed 
herself, and employed the jjoint of a woman's re- 
proach and sarcasm upon the army as they passed. 
Some of the soldiers, however, contrived, at their 
own instigation, so to dispose of her, that her tongue 
should be still for the future. This is their tradition. 
But Col. Stone, in his Life of Capt. Brandt, says 
she was living after the war. Her entire name, ac- 
cording to him, was Catharine Montaun. 

When they arrived within six miles of Newtown, 
either now on their return, or when going out, they 
were obliged to abandon between three and four 
hundred of their horses, they were so galled and 
jaded down ; and lest they should fall into the hands 
of the Indians after recovering their strength and 
soundness, they led them out from the camp and 
shot them. When the place came to be settled, tho 
primitive inhabitants finding the skeletons of their 
heads bleaching yet upon the ground, in honor and 
commemoration of the event, gave the place tho 
name of " Horse Heads." 



^ ANNALS OF 

The army, upon arriving at Newtown, was salu. 
ted from the fort which Capt. Reid and two hundred 
men had thrown up, to guard some stores and cat- 
tle sent up the river from Tioga for the army. He 
appears to have been left for this purpose. The 
salute was given by firing thirteen guns ; and was 
answered from the artillery of the army. Here a 
public rejoicing took place, in consequence of re- 
ceiving intelligence that Spain had declared war 
against Great Britain. This intelligence, together 
with the happy and important result of their expe- 
dition, gave uncommon vivacity and cheer to the 
spirits of ths way-worn army. The rejoicing was 
celebrated by killing and roasting five oxen, one for 
each brigade ; by giving double rations of bread 
and liquor ; and by the discharge of cannon and 
small arms. Here also the army remained a num. 
ber of days to recruit their wasted strength, and thus 
to prepare for the long journey yet before them. 

After leaving Newtown, they passed down the 
Chemung to Tioga Point, on the same side they 
marched up, having an opportunity of viewing the 
desolations they had made, and the ground from 
which they had driven the enemy. But now not a 
solitary one to be seen. From Tioga they pass 
down to Wyoming ; from Wyoming they cross to 
Easton, where they arrived about the 15th of Octo- 
ber ; and from Easton to Morristown, of New Jer- 
sey, where they went into winter quarters. General 
Clinton, with the New-York line, appears to have 
left the main army at Tioga, and marching to the Hud- 
son river, went into winter quarters at West Point. 



BINGHAMTON. 43 

The whole number lost in this truly celebrated 
and difficult expedition, including those who fell 
and those who died of sickness, was only forty men. 
The heroism, military skill, and patient perseve- 
rance with which it was conducted, its great suc- 
cess, and happy results to the frontier inhabitants, 
entitled the officers and men to distinguished praise 
and gratitude, which undoubtedly they received; 
and ever will, so long as their history remains. 
Upon the completion of it. Congress passed a vote 
of thanks to Gen. Sullivan, to his officers and men. 

The following winter, 1779-80, was distinguish- 
ed, on account of its unexampled rigor, by the name 
of the hard winter. This was very unfortunate and 
severe upon the Indians, who depended for their sus- 
tenance upon the fields of grain which Sullivan de- 
stroyed ; and, whose villages being burnt, were left 
houseless. 

In this year, 1780, the waters of the Susquehan- 
nah wafted down, from its head to the mouth of the 
Chemung, the canoes of another warlike company, 
under the command of Capt. Brandt. It consisted 
of forty-three Indian warriors and seven tories, hav- 
ing in custody eleven prisoners, whom they had 
taken soon after the burning of Harpersfield, in 
Delaware county, and were conducting to Niagara, 
They were what remained of fourteen militiamen, 
who had been sent out some little distance from 
Fort Schoharie, and were, at the time they were 
taken, busily employed in manufacturing sugar in 
a maple grove. Capt. Alexander Harper was one 
of these prisoners. Emotions and apprehensions 



44 . ANNALS OF 

mantled the bosoms of these men as they passed the 
banks of present Binghamton; such as have, more 
than probably, not been experienced by any in or so 
near our neighborhood since, if before, that day. 
They looked forward to a certain and torturing 
death, which they were daily told in a taunting and 
unfeeling manner by the tories, they were soon to 
experience. 



CHAPTER III. 

The first white man who made a permanent set- 
tlement in what is claimed for the village vicinity, 
was Captain Joseph Leonard. He moved from 
Wyoming in the year 1787, only eight years after 
Sullivan's expedition, with a young wife and two 
little children. His wife and the two little ones 
were put on board a canoe with what goods he 
brought up, and the canoe rowed by a hired man ; 
while he himself came up on land with two horses, 
keeping the shore and regulating his progress by 
that of his family in the river. A Capt. Baldwin, 
who settled on the Chemung river, moved up at the 
same time in company with him. 

Captain Leonard was originally from Plymouth, 
of Massachusetts. He went, when quite a young 
man, on one or more voyages in the whale fishery. 
He Uved in Wyoming some number of years; was 
there under arms in the time of the great massacre, 
though not on the field of action. He owned a farm 
there. At the time of the great Susquehannah or 
ice freshet, his own dwelling, with many others, was 



BINGHAMTON. 45 

carried away in tho wide-spread devastation of that 
deluge. Txhis event, which took place, it is believ. 
ed, in 1784, together with the disputed state of their 
land titles, induced Capt. Leonard to leave, and to 
seek more peaceable and secure possessions. 

For information on the nature and extent of the 
controversy between the Susquehannah Company, 
who origirally settled Wyoming— having made the 
purchase of the Government of Connecticut, and the 
heirs of William Pcnn, as the subject is extensive, 
the reader must be referred to the History of 
Wyoming. 

Captain Leonard received his first information of 
this region through the medium of Amos Draper, 
then an Indian trader in these parts. There was, 
Capt. Leonard says, when he came here, a Mr. Lyon, 
who lived in a temporary log house, near where 
Col. Page's ashery now stands. In the short period 
of two or three weeks after the arrival of Capt. L. 
as if in accordance with a preconcerted coincidence, 
came Col. William Rose and his brother, and fixed 
their location a little further up the river beyond 
Capt. Leonard's. It was also but a short time after 
the arrival of the latter, that he, with Amos Draper, 
invited the Indians of the neighborhood to meet in 
council, and leased of them, for the term of ninety- 
nine years, one mile square ; for which they were to 
give a harrel of com per year. This lease, how- 
ever, was invalidated by an act of the State Legisla- 
ture having been previously passed, and without the 
knowledge of these men, " that no lands should be 
leased or purchased of the Indians by private indi* 



46 ANNALS OF 

viduals." But before it was known that such a law 
existed, Col. Rose and his brother purchased Mr, 
Draper's interest in the lease. It embraced where 
the three had located themselves and where Capt. 
Leonard and Col. Rose still live. The brother of 
Col. Rose settled himself in what was afterward called 
Lisle, where he lived till within a few years, when he 
removed to Wayne county, in Pennsylvania, 

Col. Rose and his brother came from Connecti- 
cut on foot ; and when they reached what is called 
Wattles' Ferry, where the Catskill Mountains cross 
the Susquehannah river, they procured a canoe and 
came down in that ; bringing stores with them to 
this place. 

They often saw parties of Indians on the shore, 
sitting by their fires, engaged in their festivities, or 
skiiting the mountains in pursuit of deer. They, 
however, never offered to molest them. 

These young adventurers first left their native 
state, Connecticut, for the wilds of Vermont, on the 
banks of the Lamoilc. But not being satisfied with 
the prospects before them, left these less propitious 
lands, for the country of Wyoming, or rather the 
country bordering on the Conhocton. 

When, however, journeying towards this country, 
they had passed down the Susquehannah as far as 
what is now called Union, they learned from a tempo- 
rary settler of that place, a Mr. Gallop, that the coun- 
try they were seeking was in high dispute ; that they 
could obtain no satisfactory title for their land, and 
that they would be obliged to fight for their crops. 
Upon receiving this intelligence, they turned back 



BINGHAMTON. i7> 

to the mouth of the Chenango river, whose broad ^ 

stream and pleasant banks struck them favorably as ▼ 

they passed down. ^^ 

In the same year, 1787, and not far from the same 

I 
time, came also, Joshua Whitney, the father of the 

present Gen. Joshua Whitney, Gen. Wm. Whitney 

and Henry Green. These three families came 

from Hillsdale, Columbia county, and settled on the 

west side also of the Chenango, about two miles 

above its junction with the Susquehannah, on what 

was afterwards called Whitney's Flats. At this time 

there appear to have been no other inhabitants, ex- 

cept those already mentioned, nearer than Tioga 

Point, a distance of forty miles. 

But previously to the settlement of these first em- 
igrants, viz : Capt. Leonard, Col. Rose and his bro- 
ther, the two Whitneys, Henry Green, and Mr. , 
Gallop, at the Forks, in the year 1786, or earlier, a 
few individuals, of the state of Massachusetts, having 
become acquainted with this region from individuals 
who had been in the Indian expedition, came and 
viewed the country. After seeing it, and obtaining 
a grant from their own State, they determined on 
purchasing a large tract of the Indians; and propo- 
sed to have it bounded on the east by the Chenango 
river ; on the south by the patents of Bingham and 
Cox, who, it seems, were prior to them in their pur- 
chase ; on the west by the Owcgo creek ; and ex- 
tending so far north as to emprace within the limits 
just specified, 230,000 acres. The amount paid by 
the company to the State was £1500. 

This tract, according to the grant made to the 



f 



48 ANNALS OF 

company was to be bounded on the south by the Sus- 
quehannah river. But when the agents of the com- 
pany came, they found that patents had ab'eady been 
granted to Bingham, Wilson and Cox, by the state 
of New- York, embracing the valley of the Susque- 
hannah,which fixed the southern boundary of the com- 
pany upon the northern boundary of these patents, 
in extent about twenty miles square, and containing, 
as it was afterwards divided, ten townships. 

The claims upon the southern part of the state of 
New-York, which Massachusetts once asserted in 
virtue of some old but not well defined grants, were 
finally satisfied by the former State granting to the 
latter the rightof ^re-cm^/zon to all the lands within 
the bounds of the state of New-York lying west of a 
line drawn due north from the eighty- second mile-stono 
on the Pennsylvania line, to Lake Ontario. 

They made their propositions to the Indians for the 
purchase of it, appointed a time and place for the ne- 
gotiation of the bargain, and returned home. These 
individuals, at first, designed to form a company to 
consist only of eleven persons ; but conceiving the 
purchase too heavy for so small a number, and hav- 
ing so many applications for co-partnership, the 
number of the company was finally fixed at sixty. 
This company appointed as commissioners to treat 
with the Indians, Elijah Brown, Gen. Oringh Stod. 
dard. Gen. Moses Ashley, Capt. Raymond, and 
Col. David Pixley. These gentlemen met the Indi- 
ans in treaty, in the first insiance on the Chenango 
river, the east side, two or three miles above the 
present village of Binghamton, in the forepart of 



BINGHAMTON. 49 

v^inter. But at this treaty the negociation was not ^||^ 
iilly completed, and they adjourned to meet at the ^^ 
'i^orks of the Chenango. At this second treaty, 
here were between three and four hundred Indians. 

At this and the former treaty, it is said, the Indi- 

r.ns, who were furnished with provisions and Hquor 

■ vt the expense of the company, would get drunk, al- 

nost to a man, by night, but be sober through the 

lay. While the subjects of the treaty were under 

discussion from day to day, they would sit in circles 

ipon the ground, and listen with the utmost decorum. 

Their chiefs, when they spoke, would speak in sub- 

=?tance, if not in form, in accordance with parlia- 

nentary rule. Captain, and afterwards Esquire, 

Bean was their interpreter, and did their business. 

The nominal sum paid for this tract is not now 
known, but the payment was made, one half in mo- 
ney, and the other moiety in goods, consisting of 
rifles, hatchets, ammunition, blankets, and woollen 
cloths. The last, it is said, the savages, in perfect 
character with their taste, immediately tore into 
strings for ornament. 

An estimation was made of the entire cost of these 

ten townships, to wit : the purchase price, the ex- 

pense of the treaties, and the survey made of it, and 

found to amount to about one shilling per acre. The 

number of acres contained in the tract, as has just 

been stated, was 230,000 square acres. This, 

>^qually divided among the sixty proprietors, would 

f^ive to each 3833 acres, with a fraction over. The 

price for which the land was sold, in the earlieet 

'jale of it, was uniformly at twenty-five cents per 
4 



<r 



50 ANNALS OF 

acre ; but it, after a little, rose to one dollar per 
acre, and even to more. 

The land upon the shores of the two rivers, and 
for some distance back, was, even at the time of 
the purchase, partially cleared, so far as the Indians 
have their lands cleared. The under-brush was 
cleared, having been kept down by burning, and 
grass growing on the flats. The Indians uniformly 
keep down the shrubby part of their hunting grounds, 
that they may, with the more facility, discover and 
pursue their game. Col. Rose says, that he could 
see deer upon the mountains immediately back of 
him for a half mile, so free were they of under-brush. 
He observes, also, that the woods exhibited a sombre 
appearance, from their annual burnings. The large 
Island opposite Judge Stoddard's, was, when the first 
settlers came, covered with grass and the anacum 
weed, a tall kind of weed, the roots of which they 
were in the habit of digging and drying, and then 
grinding or pounding for bread stuff; or rather its 
apology, perhaps, when their corn failed them. 

The Indians in their treaty with the New Eng- 
land commissioners, reserved to themselves the 
right of hunting upon the lands they had sold, for the 
term of seven years ; and also made a reserve of 
one half mile square, as their own possession. This 
reserve was situated near the mouth of Castle creek, 
and went by the name of the Castle Farm. Upon 
this reserve the Indians of the neighborhood who 
did not remove to New Stockbridge, or Oneida, re- 
sided. Their number on the farm is said to have 
been about twenty families. They by no means 



BINGHAMTON. 5l 

confined themselves to this little spot. They culti- 
vated the ground of the farm, more or less, but de- 
pended chiefly, in accordance with their long cus- 
tom and native propensity, upon hunting and fishing. 

It is said there was one elderly person among 
them who had all their manners and followed their 
customs, but was evidently no Indian. He was of 
fair or light complexion ; had a fine pair of blue 
eyes, and formed otherwise like a white man. The 
supposition with regard to him is, that he had been 
taken from his parents or friends when a child, and 
brought up by them. It is well known that they 
often adopt white children taken as prisoners, and 
bring them up as their own. Their custom is, when- 
ever any of themselves are either slain or taken pri- 
soners in battle, to give to the nearest relative of 
the dead or missing, a prisoner whom they have 
taken in battle. If they have taken no prisoner, they 
give them a scalp of the enemy. If the bereaved 
friends receive a 'prisoner^ it is left to their option 
either to satiate their vengeance by putting him to 
death in the most cruel manner, or to receive and 
adopt him into their family, in place of the lost rela- 
tive. In such cases, good looking children are most 
always saved. The man had an Indian wife and 
several children. 

The Indians kept up their peculiar mode of dress 
so long as they remained upon their farm ; clothing 
themselves with their shirt and moccasins, their 
head bare, except sometimes ornamenting it with 
feathers, and wearing jewels of silver in their nose 
and ears. Their wigwams were built of logs, lock- 



52 ANNALS OF 

ed together at the ends, and sloping upon two sides 
from the ground to a peak, like the roof of a house. 
Another form of their wigwams was, to erect 
four stakes, or crotches, two longer and two short- 
er; upon these to lay two poles, one upon the 
longer, the other upon the shorter crotches. Upon 
these polos they would lay sticks or smaller poles 
and then barks, with sufficient ingenuity to exclude 
the rain and weather. From the lower crotches to 
the ground they would tie barks, answering to our 
weather boarding. They would close up the two 
ends in the same manner. Upon the front side 
"Were suspended skins of deer sewed together, from 
the pole upon the high crotches to the ground ; and 
which they could raise or fall at pleasure. Before 
this their fire was kindled, and the curtain of skins 
raised by day time, and more or less lowered by 
night, as the weather might be. In some cases 
they would have their wigwams lined with deer skins. 
Seldom any floor but the ground. Their bed con- 
sisted of straw, or skins thrown down. When they 
sat down, it was always upon the ground. In eat- 
ing, tliey sat generally without any order, as they 
happened to be, upon the ground, with each his piece 
in his hand. Their adroitness in spearing fish was 
admired by the whites, in which they displayed as 
much markmanship as they do with the bow and 
arrow. They would throw the spear at the fish, 
which very seldom failed of transfixing its object, 
though the distance to which it was thrown should 
be twenty or thirty feet, the fish moving rapidly at 
the s€tme time, and the water sunning swift. 



BINGHAMTON. 5S 

Their chief was called Squire Antonio. This 
title was given him by the whites on account of his 
just decisions, his correct judgment, and his sober 
habits. He was very much esteemed by the white 
people, as well as revered and loved by his own. 
He undoubtedly contributed very materially towards 
maintaining that peaceful and friendly, or at least 
orderly, conduct which the Indians have the good 
name of having observed towards the whites. All 
the old and early inhabitants, who are still living, 
say they never had any serious difficulty with the 
Indians. They always made it a point to use them 
well ; and the same conduct it seems was by them 
uniformly reciprocated. They mention a few ex- 
ceptions, if exceptions they should be called, which 
occurred almost entirely from the effects of liquor. 
Their pacific deportment, however, besides the in- 
fluence of their chief, owed its origin undoubtedly to 
tlie just and equitable manner in which the primi- 
tive settlers obtained the title of their land from them, 
the fewness of their own number, and especially the 
comparatively late and effectual drubbing they had 
received from Gen. Sullivan and his army. For it 
seems to have been fresh still in their memory. 
What part the Indians who resided in this region 
took in opposing the march of that army into their 
country, we have no means of ascertaining to a cer- 
tainty. The primitive inhabitants seem to have es- 
teemed it prudent not to converse much, if any, with, 
them on the subject. They, however, were un- 
doubtedly engaged with their brethren in arms, accor- 
ding to indirect testimony, as will hereafter appeal*. 



54 ANNALS OF 



CHAPTER IV. 

The same year in which Capt. Leonard, Colonel 
Rose, and the two Mr. Whitneys came into these 
parts, came also several others with their families, 
Lyon, who has already been spoken of, and who af- 
terward kept for several years the ferry across the 
Chenango river, about where Col. Lewis' Mills now 
are. Jesse Thayer settled where Christopher El- 
dredge now lives. Peter and Thomas Ingersoll 
settled where James Hawley now lives. Samuel 
Harding settled on the Bevier place, on the east side 
of the Chenango. Capt. John Sawtell, opposite the 
Poor House, and on the farm now owned and occu- 
pied by Mr. Dickson. A Mr. Butler settled a little 
below Capt. Leonard, and on the river bank. Sol- 
omon Moore settled on the site of the present village 
of Binghamton. 

A man by the name of Cole, who lived about two 
miles above where Col. Rose located himself, lived 
and died there, was one who had taken shelter here, 
before any white inhabitant had moved into the 
parts. He was found here when the earliest settlers 
came. 

Out of regard to the descendants of Mr. Cole, 
who are said to be numerous and respectable, it 
might be thought the duty of the writer of these 
Annals, to suppress the history of his deeds. But 
the love of truth, which should pervade all minds, 
even of those more immediately affected by its de- 



BINGHAMTON. 55 

v-velopement, should form an ample justification for 
the narration of so much of his inhumanity as was 
well known to his cotemporaries. He is said to 
have been an accomplice in leading on the Indians 
in that most inhuman massacre at Wyoming, and 
also that of Minnisink. It is said, that while engaged 
in this infernal employment at the latter place, an 
Indian, who was about to seize a child, lying in its 
cradle, in order to dash its brains out, felt his heart 
misgive in its cruelty, by the babe's smiling upon 
him ; and was about turning away from the deed, 
when Cole, observing him to hesitate, said, with an 
oath, " Is your heart too tender for your work ?" 
Upon this he seized the little innocent, and termina- 
ted its tender life against the door post. 

A few years after Mr. Cole had settled here, there 
came two young men into the neighborhood from 
Minnisink, enquiring for him ; whose parents, ac- 
cording to their narrative, he had murdered. Cole 
himself had moved to this place from Minnisink. 
Hearing where the author of their parents' untimely 
and bloody death was living, they came all the way 
from their own neighborhood, with the sworn pur- 
pose to kill him. They were armed with rifles ; 
and upon arriving here they met with Col. Rose 
and Judge Whitney, who were engaged in their 
fields. They made enquiries of these men respect- 
ing Cole, and finding them frank and candid in their 
answers, and acquainted with the reputed fact, that 
Cole had been engaged in the massacre of their de- 
voted neighborhood, they ventured to inform them 
of the object of their errand, tragical as it was in- 



56 ANNALS OP 

tended to be. Mr. Whitney and Mr. Rose, though 
they could not altogether condemn the heroic and 
natural spirit of revenge of these young men, yet 
they felt strongly inclined, principally from a regard 
to his family, to dissuade them from their purpose. 
While these gentlemen were talking with the young 
men. Cole appeared in sight ; they beckoned to him 
to turn away, which intimation he understood and 
obeyed. They stated to these young men, that 
Cole was now settled among them, and had a family 
about him ; that it was a long time ago when the 
deed was done, and also in a time of war. The 
youth, moved with what had been said to them, re- 
linquished their purpose and returned. Mr, Cole 
was, after this, careful of exposing himself, when he 
came to learn that it was known in Minnisink where 
he was. 

Captain Leonard, upon one occasion, being at 
Tioga Point in company with Cole, found it neces- 
sary to get Mm out of the way of two men, who, he 
found, were taking this opportunity to kill him. The 
manner of his death, finally, might be considered as 
a judicial punishment for the barbarity of which he 
had been guilty. He died a miserable lingering 
death, occasioned by the fall of the roof of his house. 

One Tom Hill, who died a few years since, hav- 
ing been a town charge of this place for many years, 
was also, it is ascertained, engaged in the massju 
Cres of Wyoming and Minnisink. He married a 
gquaw, the celebrated Queen Easter, who distin. 
guished herself at the massacre at Wyoming. 

Soon after the settlement of the emigrants aU 



• BINGHAMTON. 57 

ready mentioned, the next year, other families to the 
number of about twenty, came and settled in the re- 
gion. These greatly added to the privation and 
want which were already experienced by the origi- 
nal emigrants. The hospitality, however, of these 
earlier emigrants failed them not, even in this severe 
trial of it ; but was extended to the wants of these 
sufferers, so far as lay in their power, until the 
latter could, by industry and time, create resources 
of their own. 

It is stated by those still living of the first set- 
tlers, that a state of feeling was, on every occasion 
calculated at all to bring it forth, manifested toward 
one another, more of the nature of genuine family 
affection, than of mere neighborhood sympathy. 
They felt, they say, like the members of one family ; 
were ready to share the last loaf with him who had 
none. The families of the last settlers, had veri- 
fied to them, over and again, the spirit and letter of 
what has been just stated. The families who had 
barely more than what they absolutely needed from 
day to day would impart to those in need, with the 
same equal and generous hand that a mother dis- 
tributes her limited store to her hungry children. 
They would reserve no more to themselves than 
they parted with. It is a very ancient maxim, 
found in the writings of Pythagoras, and verified in- 
variably to those who are its subjects, "that true 
frienship is reciprocal in its nature." Such genu- 
ine hospitality and kind feehngs as were exemplified 
from day to day by these early sons of the forest. — 
these pioneers of present fruitful fields and thriving 



58 ANNALS OF 

villages — were almost sure to produce the happy 
results which followed. It is stated by the present 
survivors, that there were no serious disputes in 
their commercial transactions for a series of years ; 
that for a length of time they had no occasion for 
magistrate or jury. It was five years from the set- 
tlement before they had the semblance of a court. 
This was held before Esquire Johnson, in the open 
air, shaded by some trees. When the parties at 
issue were come together, they were exhorted to 
adjust their own difference ; the magistrate remark- 
ing to them, that he was but a man, and his judg- 
ment only that of a man. They, in compliance 
with his admonition, and in accordance with the 
spirit of their own bosoms, settled their own differ- 
ence. 

As a matter of course, all the primitive settlers 
labored with their own hands. The elder Mr. 
Whitneys themselves working laboriously from day 
to day. Labor then, and it may easily be imagi- 
ned what kind it was, was in no disrepute ; and the 
short time that has elapsed since, has in no wise 
changed the moral of it. However unpopular with 
the higher classes labor may have become in these 
effeminate days, still, while the human constitution 
remains what it ever has been, no one can exempt 
himself with impunity. The constitution suffers 
so soon as it is dispensed with, and uneasiness, 
ennui, and decay of strength and health ensue. 

By their daily and hardy industry, they lay the 
heads of the lofty pines and sturdy oaks low ; they 
sever into parts their huge trunks and branches. 



BINGHAMTON. 59 

and heap them for burning. The ground with its 
incumbent mass must be burnt over, to make room 
for the falling seed, and to render the soil more nu- 
tritious and of a warmer temperature. Their fields 
must be fenced, or exposed to the incursion and 
spoliation of domestic or wild animals. And when 
their grain is ripened and harvested, they have 
scarcely any place to dispose of it ; some rude ho- 
vel or log barn ; or it must be stacked out of doors, 
and threshed out of doors ; winnowed by the rude 
winds of heaven ; gathered into a few bags and set 
in one corner, or swung across the beams of their 
one room. And when the father or oldest son has 
leisure, or the necessities or the family urge, he sets 
out, as it were, upon a little voyage, to be gone 
many days and nights, with a portion of the crop ; 
that the loaf might not entirely fail. The absence 
of one out of the family, though it be but a time, is 
sensibly felt, as a thousand anxieties are felt for the 
absent one, and but little to cheer those who remain 
at home. 

And generally the dreariness that surrounded 
them ; the lonesomeness of home ; the pinching 
want at times ; the homely and exceedingly lim- 
ited conveniences within doors ; the imperfect man- 
ner they were defended from the cold and rain ; 
the long and dreary nights of winter, when guests 
or books were few or none ; the often tender cir- 
cumstances of the wife ; the liability of all to dis- 
eases, for the amelioration or cure of which there 
was no physician near ; no man of God to watch 
over their morals and to turn their wayward feet 



60 ANNALS OF 

" unto the wisdom of the just ;" the children grow- 
ing up in semi-barbarism ; the contrast which the 
parents would naturally make between the past and 
the present, would at times press down, undoubtedly, 
the mind of the father, and still more the naturally 
anxious and tender mind of the mother. 

There were as yet no roads opened, nothing more 
than Indian paths. The New England emigrants 
in coming, found scarcely no roads after crossing 
the Hudson river. The route from the east was by 
the Catskill ; west of the Castkill to Acre was thir- 
teen miles, where, at the time the Mr. Whitneys 
came in, Joseph Shaw and Capt. Trowbridge resi- 
ded. Both of these persons afterwards removed 
into this country. From Acre to the top of the 
Catskill Mountain was a distance often miles, where 
there was another white inhabitant ; from thence 
to Windham, then known as Pataron, were one or 
two more families ; thence about ten miles to Scho- 
harie Kill ; three miles beyond this, two brothers 
resided ; thence three miles, Mr. More resided ; 
the father of John F. More now occupying his place ; 
from More's to Harpersfield, about twenty miles, 
five or six families had settled ; from this place U 
Franklin, about thirty-five miles, the families of th' 
Mr. Whitneys were the first that attempted a pas 
sage with wagons ; from FrankHn to Ouliout, eigb 
miles, was a settlement ; thence to the mouth of the 
Unadilla, where a few families were settled ; thenc< 
down to Oquago, now Windsor, were five or six fa- 
milies ; among them. Harper and Hotchkiss. Fol- 
lowing down the Susquehannah, the Mr. Whitneye 



BINGE AMTON. ' 61 

found at the Great Bend two or three famine's more. 
On the Chenango, resided the famiUes that have al- 
ready been mentioned ; and at the Forks there re- 
sided a Mr. Gallop ; but beyond the Forks, either 
on the Chenango or Onondaga, there were no white 
inhabitants ; from the Unadilla to this place there 
was only an Indian trail. 

The roads that were first opened, were merely 
the Indian paths taken and followed where they 
were eligible, and the fallen logs, the underbrusli, 
and so many of the saplings cut out of the way as 
would admit a wagon to pass ; curving when large 
trees interposed. Roads of this description in a 
few years were laid, or rather cut, to some distance 
on both sides of the Chenango, generally where they 
now run ; and also on the village side of the Sus- 
quehannah, both above and below the village. In 
1788 a sleigh road was opened to the Unadilla. 

Conveying their grain to mill, which was, at first, 
the chief business that took them from home, was 
performed through the medium of canoes upon the 
river. Their nearest place to get grinding done 
was either at Tioga Point, or rather three miles this 
side, at Shepherd's Mills, a distance of forty miles ; 
or else they must traverse the distance of seventy 
miles up the Susquehannah to Wattles' Ferry. 
These jaunts would occupy a week, and sometimes 
a fortnight. A considerable portion of their corn, 
however, was pounded, and thus converted into 
samp, by the simple machinery of a stump hollowed 
out for a mortar, and a pestle suspended by a sweep. 

The Indians raised corn and potatoes, from whom 



62 ANNALS OF 

seed was procured ; but seed for other growing was 
brought from the Hudson. Flour, what Kttle was 
had, was brought from the Hudson, or brought up 
the Susquehannah in canoes from Wyoming. 

Many of the conveniences, however, and some of 
the luxuries of life, in a few years arose to take the 
place of the partial or entire destitution of those 
things which are considered essential even to a 
moderate share of the enjoyments of life. And it 
is only in anticipation of brighter days and easier 
circumstances, that the first settlers of a new coun- 
try are willing to incur the hardships of a pioneer 
life. The prospects of our heroes of the forest be- 
gan now to brighten, when they found they could 
raise grain and vegetables of every kind abundant 
for their own consumption, and accumulating, over 
and above, for market. Their cattle also multiply- 
ing upon their hands and afibrding a surplus for 
market. But foreign articles, however, of every 
description, were, as yet, principally confined to the 
few that were brought in at first, as the costly and 
choice items in the invoice of their household stufi". 

So soon as any found themselves able, they were 
forward to erect mills ; as their great utility and 
need had been fully felt. A saw mill was built in 
1788, on Castle creek, owned by Henry French. 
This was the first in the country ; and in 1790, the 
first grist mill was built on Fitch's creek, now in the 
town of Conklin. 

Besides these already mentioned, in the first or 
second season, came John Miller, Esq., his son-in- 
law Mr. Moore, and Mr. Luce, and settled on the 



BINGHAMTON. 63 

east side of the Chenango river, where the new 
bridge crosses that river. These men and their fa- 
rnihes were originally from New Jersey. They had 
the beautiful, though fated, country of Wyoming in 
view, when they started from home ; but here they 
remained only a short time ; the conflicting state 
of things urged them to leave. Mr. Miller appears 
to have been the earliest magistrate in the settle- 
ment. He had acted in that capacity in New Jer- 
sey. He was also a member of the Presbyterian 
church, and had the reputation here of being pious ; 
eminently so. While the country was without a 
regular ministry, he was in the habit of conducting 
public worship on the Sabbath, which was held uni- 
formly at Samuel Harding's, who lived where Capt. 
De Forest now does. He and his daughters 

would walk down on the Sabbath, a distance of four 
miles. 

In the summer of 1789, a very considerable ac- 
cession was made by persons who settled both upon 
the valley of the Susquehannah and that of the Che- 
nango. Daniel Hudson settled between Captain 
Leonard's and Colonel Rose's. He was Major and 
afterward Judge. Jonathan Fitch settled upon the 
creek that took his name : Mr. Fitch was from Wv- 
oming ; was a merchant there, and had been Sheriff 
of the county. He was a man of considerable native 
talent, had evidently mingled much with men of in- 
formation, and was polished in his manners. He 
was the first representative to the State Legislature 
from the new county of Tioga. Some say, however, 
that Gen. Patterson, who settled in early day on the 



64 ANNALS OF 

Onondaga, at what is called now Whitney's Point, 
was the earliest representative of the county. 

Mr. Howe, a Baptist minister, came in the third 
summer, and settled near where Deacon Stow now 
lives. He officiated in his sacred capacity after his 
settlement, and was successful in gathering and 
forming a church, consisting at first of ten or twelve 
persons. These were said to be principally the 
fruits of a revival which took place under his min- 
istry. He, however, notwithstanding his success in 
gathering a church of so goodly a number for that 
early day, staid but a very few years. He was suc- 
ceeded by Elder Fisk. The number of members 
never increased much beyond its first amount, biTt 
i-ather diminished and continued to dwindle until 
about the year 1800, when it became extinct. This 
was tbe earliest christian society. 

There was also a Dutch Reformed church cstab- 
llshed in about the year 1798, through the official 
labors of Mr. Manley, a Dutch Reformed minister. 



CHAPTER V. 

It has been already observed, that the conduct 
of the Indians towards the first settlers was, in the 
main, pacific ; so far so, indeed, as to relieve the lat- 
ter from any distressing anxiety as to their personal 
safety ; especially, after a sufficient time had been 
allowed for the manifestation of those feelings which 
evidently existed, with slight and occasional excep- 
tions, in the minds of both parties. The India.n& 
were more than negatively pacific in their deport- 



BINGHAMTON. 65 

ment ; they are said to have been inclined to the so- 
ciety of the whites. They acknowledged their su- 
periority without apparently being jealous of it, or 
hating it. If they felt aggrieved, they were free to 
make it known to them, to have it, if possible, peace- 
ably adjusted. As they could talk intelhgible Eng- 
lish, they would mingle more or less with their white 
brethren, especially when the time or the weather 
suspended their labors. The children of the white 
population would often play with the Indian papoo- 
ses, Those who were children then, and yet living, 
say, they have played with the Indian children many 
an hour. Some of the plays had been handed down 
in the line of Indian ancestry, and some in the line 
of American or English ancestry. The plays of 
children are very ancient. Some of those now ex- 
tant, and very common, were known to the Grecian 
and Roman children. 

The exceptions to peaceful conduct on the part 
of the Indians that are mentioned by the early set- 
tiers, are but few, thouo-h somewhat interestin o- ; and 
therefore may be mentioned. One is mentioned by 
Col. Rose. He says, he came in one afternoon from 
work, and found an Indian, whom he well knew, in 
the house, standing before his wife, who was comb- 
ing her hair, which was hanging down before her 
eyes ; so that she did not observe the Indian. He 
stood with his knife, which they almost invariably 
carried with them, in his hand and pointing it to^ 
wards her breast. Col. Rose, observing it, spoke 
with alarm, with earnestness, and with not a little 

anger, and demanded what he meant ? The Indian 
5 



66 ANNALS OF 

turned away with a laugh, and said he only wanted 
something to eat. The Col. thinks the Indian did 
not intend to hurt his wife, but only to frighten her, 
that she might the more readily comply when he 
should ask for food. 

Another instance is mentioned by Mr. Abraham 
Bevier, relating to his father. His father, he says, 
was returning from the village, which at this time, 
it seems, had begun to be built up, and was accosted 
by an Indian, whom he well knew, and whom he had 
met with in the village, and treated with some li- 
quor he had been buying, and was then carrying 
home. The Indian, knowing he had the liquor on 
board his wagon, hailed him as he passed, and asked 
for more. Mr. Bevier, thinking, as we have a right 
to suppose, that the Indian had had already enough, 
whipped up his horses, with the design of escaping 
from his importunity. But the Indian, laying hold 
of the wagon's wheel, to prevent its going on, was 
partly thrown under it, and, it may be, more or less 
hurt. On leaving the wagon he took a circuit into 
the woods, under his full speed, and when he had 
attained a sufficient compass, as he supposed, to 
come out ahead of the wagon, he came down to the 
road in order to head Mr. Bevier ; but not being 
soon enough to reach the wagon, which Mr. Bevier 
shoved with the speed of his horses, he, in a rage, 
brandished his knife ; showing the former what he 
would have done, had he got hold of him. It is most 
probable, however, that the conduct and manifested 
rage of the Indian is to be attributed, on this occa- 



BINGHAMTON. 67 

sion, to the effects of inebriation, rather than to na- 
tive ferocity. 

Mr. William Rose, son of Col. Rose, relates an 
anecdote of himself: When a small boy, he, with 
two other boys, were playing down by the river side, 
when they spied some Indians passing at a little 
distance. Supposing themselves not seen by them, 
as boys are too apt to do, commenced an insulting 
halloo to them. The Indians immediately made 
for them through the bushes, which young William 
observing, up and scampered ; the other boys kept 
themselves hid. One of the Indians took after him. 
He was about a mile from home. He ran with all 
his speed, and the Indian near behind him, and would, 
now and then say, in this hard contested race, 
" barm by, me catch em yankee." When he got to 
his father's door he fell, almost lifeless, into the 
house. The Indian observing him safely arrived 
at home, turned and went back. Mr. Rose suppo- 
ses the Indian did this to punish, and that very justly, 
his impertinence. 

There is an ingredient which runs through the en- 
tire history of this " scattered and pealed" people, 
especially that part of it which relates to their prox- 
imity and relation to white people, that is appropri- 
ately calculated to touch our sympathies. I allude 
to the repeated wrongs they have received from ci- 
vilized and christian white men : and also to the 
fact, that they are withering away from the face of 
a civilized population, and disappearing fast from 
the earth. Their constant diminution and prospec 
tive annihilation arise principally from two causes i 



68 ANNALS OF 

the moral impossibility of their amalgamating with 
European descent,, and the cupidity of white men for ' 
their lands. 

As a practical exemplification of what has just 
been stated, we might instance the manner in which 
their Castle farm, the small reserve they made to 
themselves, was obtained from them. 

In about the year 1792 or '3, an individual by 
the name of Patterson, living in the neighborhoodr 
and acquainted with the Indians — whether at his 
own instigation or induced by some one of the Mas- 
sachusetts company, is not known — undertook with 
a good deal of artifice, to get the farm out of their 
hands. He went to the Indians at the Castle, and 
made himself very famihar and sociable with them. 
He brought with him a silver mounted rifle, which 
he knew would gain their admiration and excite their 
cupidity. Abraham Antonio, the son of the chief, 
was smitten with a, desire for it. He endeavored to 
purchase it, making such offers as he could afford. 
But Patterson put him off, telling him he did not 
wish to sell it ; or setting such a price upon it as he 
knew was beyond the power of Abraham immedi- 
ately to command. After he had sufficiently pre- 
pared the way for himself, he proposed to the young 
chief, that if he would engage to give him so many 
bear skins, he would let him have the rifle. This 
the prince complied with. A note was required on 
the part of Patterson, with the son and father's name 
subscribed, that the skins should be delivered against 
a specified time. Abraham hesitated as to such a 
course, as he did not understand such a mode of 



BINGHAMTON. 69 

business. He therefore asked his father as to the 
propriety, who told his son it was a common mode 
of doins business with the whites. Patterson then 
"professedly wrote a note^ specifying the number of 
skins, and read it off to the father and son accord- 
ingly, who both signed their names. But instead of 
writing a note, he wrote a deed for the Castle farm. 
This deed, with the father and son's signature, he 
took to the Boston company, and boasted of his 
success. 

When the Indians came to find that they had, un- 
knowingly, conveyed away their farm and settle- 
ment, through the artifice and treachery of this man, 
they swore vengeance upon him. They retained a 
sense of the wrong, unabated, until the perpetration 
of the deed had, in their estimation, received its mer- 
ited punishment, for which, it seems, an opportunity 
was afterward found. For, previously to Wayne's 
expedition against the Indians of Ohio, which took 
place in 1794, Abraham Antonio, who was deci- 
dedly of a warlike disposition, had gone into Ohio 
to join his brethren in arms there. While there, 
either by accident, or by his indefatigable search 
and enquiry, he obtained intelligence respecting 
Patterson, who had moved out into this country. 
He hastened to wreak his vengeance upon him. He 
found him, and massacred both him and his family. 
At least, such were the inferences drawn by the 
neighborhood after Abraham's return. He confes- 
sed he found him. 

Col. Rose remarks that Abraham was the only 
Indian he was afraid of ; and gives an anecdote to 



70 ANNALS OF 

show the reason he had to fear him. After the- 
village — the old village most probably — began to be 
settled, and afforded a market for such articles as 
tliey had to dispose of, the Indians often went down 
to trade ; and received in return rifles sometimes, 
hatchets, knives, blankets, trinkets, together with 
whiskey ; of which latter, it is well known, they were 
very fond. 

Upon a time, when several of them had been to 
the village, the old chief Antonio himself, his son 
Abraham, and Seth the interpreter, composing a 
part of the company, they all stopped, on their way 
back, at Col. Rose's. He set a long bench, which 
then served instead of chairs, before the fire for 
them. He observed, as they came in, that several 
of them were intoxicated ; and Abraham, he soon 
discovered, more than any of the rest. The old 
chief was sober, and so was Seth. He observed, 
also, that Abraham was angry with his father, and 
had been, it appeared, quarrelling with him on the 
way ; probably because the old chief had reproved 
him for getting drunk, and for his impertinent con- 
duct on the"way. All took their seats upon the long 
bench before the fire, except Abraham, who kept 
walking the floor. Col. Rose kept his eye upon 
him, for he did not know what his design might be ; 
apprehensive, however, that he would attack his 
father, as some words, in a menacing tone, would, 
now and then, be uttered. Directly he saw him 
spring upon his father's back, as he sat immediately 
before the fire, and thrust him into it. But the Col. 
was almost as quick, and drew him out. Abraham 



BINGHAMTON. T,l 

then ran and seized an axe, standing in one corner 
of the room ; but the Col. wrested this from him. 
The Col. then said, we must tie him. Get a rope, 
then, said Seth ; who by this time had laid hold of 
him too. A rope was procured. They succeeded 
in tying him. Col. Rose then sat down by the side 
of him, with his arm laid upon him, and in a feeling 
and friendly manner, began to reason and expostu- 
late with him, upon his outrageous conduct, and his 
desperate attempt to burn his father. Abraham 
soon began to cool down, and to feel the force of 
tliese reproofs. He melted into tears, and promised 
to behave himself with becoming propriety, if they 
would untie him. He was set at liberty, and fulfilled 
his promise. He behaved himself for that time. 
But Col. Rose said he had reason to think that the 
young prince owed him a grudge for his interfer- 
ence ; and was afraid to meet him alone, especiallv 
afler it was strongly suspected that he was guilty of 
the murder of a white man in Lisle. He murdered 
his own child, it is said, commanding his wife 
to throw the child into the fire, merely for its 
crying. 

As it most generally turns out in the course of 
events — which, after all our scepticism, are guided 
by an overruling providence — that a violent or bloody 
course of life is terminated by violent or bloody 
means ; so in the case of Abraham Antonio, the son 
of so mild and pacific a father. He died by violent 
hands. He was hung, not many years ago, in Madi- 
son, for murdering a man there. Abraham, notwith- 
standing he was cruel and revengeful, yet was well 



72 ANNALS OF 

behaved ordinarily, and an- Indian of more than or- 
dinary abilities. 



CHAPTER VI. 

/ In the year 1791 or '2, the present Gen. Joshua 
Whitney was sent by his father to Philadelphia, with 
a drove of cattle, seventeen in number ; the greater 
part of the way being nothing but a wilderness. 
W^hile this undertaking shows the enterprize of the 
father, and the ready obedience and courage, if not 
equal enterprize, of the son, in committing himself 
alone, for he went alone, to the dreariness and waste 
of an almost pathless wilderness ; it also, in the de- 
tails of it, developes the many obstacles that lay in 
the way of sending their surplus cattle and produce 
to market ; and also of importing back the goods 
which are to be obtained only from some seaport 
town or city. 

Young Whitney, then only about twenty years of 
age, started late in the fall. He went by the way 
of the Great Bend ; thence to the Salt Lick farm, 
six miles beyond ; thence through the Nine Partners, 
to a place called Hop-Bottom, on the Tunkhannoc 
Creek ; thence, with no road but marked trees, to 
Thorn-Bottom, twenty-five miles from the Nine Part- 
ners. The habitations of men to be met with, only 
about where it was necessary to stay through the 
night. And at these places there was nothing for 
the cattle to subsist upon but browsing in the woods. 
Consequently, in ranging for food through the night. 



BINGHAMTON. 73 

they were subject to straying so far as not to be 
found by the young herdsman. By his vigilance, 
however, though he had often no httle trouble to 
gather his number together in the morning, he lost 
none. From Thorn-Bottom he proceeded to the 
Lackawanna ; thence ten miles to Wilksbarre ; 
from this place he drove to one branch of the Lehigh, 
twenty miles. Upon this part of his journey his cat- 
tle became poisoned by eating laurel,, which operated 
upon them so severely by salivation and otherwise, 
that he was obliged to suspend his journey for more 
than a week, at a small Dutch settlement three miles 
on this side of the Pocono Mountains. The night 
previously to his arriving at this settlement he was 
so nearly drained of his funds by an exorbitant 
charge of his miscreant landlord, who charged him 
four or five times the usual bill, that he was obliged 
to write from this place to his father, stating his cir- 
cumstances. His father came to his relief. His 
Dutch host and family, and indeed the whole neigh- 
borhood, could scarcely understand a word of Eng- 
lish, so that he was obliged to communicate by signs, 
as well as he could. After his father came and re- 
plenished his purse, with his cattle well, and his 
courage renewed, he proceeded on to Philadelphia, 
by the way of what is called the Wind Gap, and 
through Nazareth. 

After disposing of his cattle, in returning, he was 
to bring back mercantile goods ; which, after pro- 
curing, he put on board Pennsylvania wagons, and 
brought them to Middletown, ninety miles from Phil- 
adelphia.' At Middletown they were put on board 



74 ANNALS OF 

of what was called a Durham hoat, pushed by six 
hands. All the way from this place to Owego, a 
distance of two hundred and fifty-five miles, this boat 
was urged by the sturdy strength of six men, where 

' force was in requisition the most of the time, in 
consequence of the strong current that was opposing 
them ; often obliged to be out himself midway in 
the water, with cakes of ice floating against him, 
and that too for hours together. He arrived at 
Owego a little before Christmas. 

Nothing could better illustrate the difliculties and 
the expense which must be encountered to transmit 
their effects to market and merchandize back. 
Every newly settled place or country is, at first, 
without resources of its own, and must depend on 
some foreign mart. An intercourse between the 
two must take place, or there will be no growth of 
the former, much less any sources of wealth and im- 
provement. And those who lead the way in opening 
an intercourse with foreign places of trade, must 
have the credit of originating the sources, first of the 
necessaries and conveniences of life, and then of the 
^ealth and improvement of the place. 

/ Mr. Whitney the elder, and father of Joshua, of 
whom we have just spoken, was not spared long to 
his family and neighborhood, and to witness the 
growing improvements that were destined to take 
place around him. He died of a yellow fever on 
his return from Philadelphia, where he had been to 
purchase goods. By a previous arrangement, his 
aon was to meet him at Wilksbarre with boats to 
bring on the goods. When he got there he found a 



BINGHAMTON. 75 

letter from his father, informing him of his sickness, 
at a public house at the Wind Gap, and with word 
for him to come immediatly to him. By riding 
very early and late, the next day he arrived there, 
just in time to see his father alive, and to close his 
eyes after the spirit had fled ; which he did with his 
own hands. He found the landlord and his family 
much alarmed at the infectious nature of the disease 
his father had, and even advised him not to go in 
where his father was. To this he paid no attention. 
The landlord, after death had taken place, insisted 
upon the old gentleman's being buried that same 
night, lest the infection, with which the disease was 
supposed to be fraught, should spread. This, through 
the force of circumstances, he consented to. A 
coffin was hurriedly made, and the son literally car- 
ried out and buried his own father, with the help 
oidy of two negro servants. 

In early times, when the country was first settled, 
and for a long time since, shad ran up the Susque- 
hannah in great numbers as far as Binghamton, 
and even some to the source of the river. Thousands 
of them were caught from year to year, in this vi- 
cinity, especially at the three great fishing places, 
at Union, opposite Judge Mersereau's ; at this place, 
[Binghamton] opposite the dry bridge ; and upon 
the point of an Island at Oquago. There were two 
other places of less note ; one on the Chenango, op- 
posite Mr. Bevier's ; the other was at the mouth of 
Snake creek. The time that the shad would arrive 
here, and at which time they began to be caught, 
would generally be about the last of April, and the 



II 

76 ANNALS OF 

fishing would continue through the month of May. 
it was made quite a business by some, and after the 
country was sufficiently filled in with inhabitants to 
create a demand for all that could be caught, the 
business became a source of considerable profit. 
During a few of the first runs, the shad would sell 
for eight and ten pence a piece ; and after this the 
price generally depreciated down as low as three 
pence per shad. Several hundred would sometimes . 
be caught at one draught. Herring also ran up at 
the same time with the shad ; but as it was no object 
to catch them while a plenty of shad could be caught, 
their nets were so constructed as to admit them 
through the meshes. 

The nets employed were from sixteen to thirty 
rods long ; and employed each net, from six to 
eight men to manage them. Their time for sweep- 
ing was generally in the night, as the shallowness of 
the water would not allow them to fish in the day 
time. Again the shad would in the night run up on 
the riffles to sport ; which gave to the fisherman 
another advantage. They would make their hauls 
the darkest nights, without lights, either in their 
boats or on shore. They had their cabins or tents 
to lodge in ; and would be notified when it was time 
to haul, by the noise the shoal of fish would make in 
sporting on the shallow places. 

The shad seemed never to find either a place or 
time at which to turn and go back. Even after de- 
positing their eggs, they would continue to urge 
their way up stream, until they had exhausted their 
entire strength ; which would, being out of their 



BINGHAMTON. 77 

salt-water element, after a while fail them. The 
shores, in consequence, would be strewed with their 
dead bodies, through the summer, upon which the 
wild animals would come down and feed. Their 
young fry would pass down the stream in the fall, 
having grown now to the length of three or four 
inches, in such numbers as to choke up the eel- 
weirs. 

They have discontinued running up so far as this, 
for twelve or fifteen years ; consequently ribne with- 
in that time have been caught. The numerous 
mill-dams and mills on the streams, together with 
the number of rafts that pass down in the spring, 
undoubtedly deter them from comi^ng. 

As we have spoken o^ fishing in early days, which 
was so different from what it is at present, so will 
we speak of the hunting of early times. 

It is allowed by the old hunters that wild animals 
were uncommonly plenty here when the country 
was first settled. Martins were plenty, and caught 
in dead-falls for their fur. Panthers were frequent- 
ly met with and shot by hunters. Bears were nu- 
merous and large. Wild cats were also found. 
But deer, which may be considered the staple com- 
modity with hunters in a new country, were deci- 
dedly numerous. They would be seen sometimes 
twenty and thirty in a flock. Of this species of 
game great numbers were yearly killed. There ap- 
pear to have been no wild turkies found here when 
the country was first settled. A solitary flock, some 
twenty.five or thirty year^ ago appear to have wan- 
dered from its own native forests, and was observ- 



« 



78 ANNALS OF 

ed in the neighborhood of Oquago by Deacon Stow, 
who was at that day a distinguished hunter. He 
dropped his work in the field, and obtaintng a gun 
from the nearest neighbor, he managed to kill one, 
before the flock got entirely out of his way. It re- 
mained in the neighborhood forest, until the turkies 
were all shot, except the last one, which was caught 
in a trap. 

There were several modes of hunting the deer. 
Besides the ordinary way of pursuing them by day- 
light with hounds, the hunters would resort to the 
deer-licks, of which there were many, and ascer- 
taining, as nearly as they could, where they stood to 
lap the water, they would set their guns so as to take 
the deer when they came by night to drink. This 
they would do before night-fall, and then remain by 
their guns and watch. They could hear the deer 
when in the act of drinking, by the noise they made 
in lapping the water. This was their time to let 
otf their guns, which they often would do, several 
together. If they heard the deer fall, they went and 
cut its throat, or their throats, as they sometimes 
shot more than one at a discharge, and brought 
them off the ground. They would then set their 
guns again, and wait for the well-known sound of 
the lapping to be renewed. They would continue 
their vigilance according to their success ; some- 
times till twelve and two, and sometimes till quite 
the dawn of the next morning. The dressing of 
the game was ordinarily reserved till the next day. 
Another mode pursued by the hunters was, to 
take the deer when they came down late in the sura- 



BINGHAMTON. ^^^ 79 

mer or fall to feed upon the sedge or eel grass which 
grows in the river. Two men would get into a 
skiff, or boat of any kind that would answer the pur- 
pose, in which there was a platform in the fore- part 
covered with turf; upon this they would kindle a 
brisk fire, and one would sit in the fore-part, near 
the fire, with his rifle in his hand ; the other would 
sit in the hinder-part and impel and guide the boat 
with a single paddle, taking care to make no noise, 
either in the water or at the side of the boat. The 
deer, at seeing the moving fire, would raise their 
heads and stamp with their feet, without moving 
much from their place, even at quite a near approach 
of the boat. This would enable the hunters to come 
as near to their game as they wished, and to make 
sure their aim. Sometimes they would take their 
stand upon the shore and watch by moonlight. It 
has been remarked by these hunters, and probably 
observed by a great many others, that deer when 
seen by the light of fire, in a certain position, look 
white. 

A story is told of two of the early settlers of 
Oquago, one a Dutchman by the name of Hendrick- 
son, the other a yankee by the name of Merryman. 
They had been in the habit of going together to a 
little Island in the Susquehannah, called Fish Islanf> 
to watch for deer, with the understanding always, 
that each was to share equally in the game. One 
fine evening, while the moon was shining in its full- 
ness, it occurred to the Dutchman that he would go 
down to the Island and watch for deer, without let- 
ling his brother yankee know of it. The same 



# 



♦ 



80 ANNALS OF 

thought occurred to the yankee. They both went 
down to the Island and took their stations acciden- 
iully, at each end. In the course of the evening, 
while waiting for deer, to their apprehension, two 
made their appearance and entered the river, and 
passing by the upper end of the Island were fired 
upon" by the yankee, wfeose station happened to be at 
that end ; the deer bounded, with a mighty splash, 
down stream ; and passing the Joiver end of the 
Island Were fired upon by the Dutchman, whose shot 
took effect and brought one down. As the latter 
went out to drag in his game, the yankee called out 
and claimed the deer, as he had fired first. The 
Dutchman muttered some objection, and continued 
wading. When he came up to the weltering and 
dying animal, to his surprise, instead of a large 
deer, which he was in full expectation of, behold ! 
he had killed one of his neighbor's young cattle — a 
two year old heifer ; and which he readily recogni- 
zed. " Well, den," said he to his companion, who 
was making his way down to him, " you may have 
de deer; it is your's, I believe." The yankee, 
when he came to find also what had been done, and 
feeling they wer6 both about equally implicated, pro- 
posed that they should send the animal down stream, 
arid say nothing about the matter, as they could not 
aiford to pay for it. The Dutchman— and here we 
see the characteristic honesty of the one, as well as 
the characteristic dishonesty or disingenuousness of 
the other — objected ; saying, they would take it to 
the owner, and tell him how they came to shoot it ; 
and as it would, when dressed, be very good eating, 



BINGHAMTON. 81 

he did not think they should be charged very high for 
the accident. While they were disputing which 
course they should pursue, they heard at some little 
distance near the shore, or upon it, a noise and diffi- 
cult breathing, as of an animal dying ; they went 
to it, and partly hid among weeds and grass, they 
found, to their further dismay, another heifer, be- 
longing to another neighbor, in her last struggles, 
having received her death-wound from the first shot. 
The yankee now insisted, with greater importunity, 
that tliey should send them both down stream, as 
they could never think of paying for them both. 
But the Dutchman as strenuously objected, and pro- 
posed that the yankee should go the next morning 
to the owner of one, and he would go to the owner 
of the other, and make proposals of restitution on 
as favorable terms as they could obtain. The yan- 
kee finally acceded ; and each went the next morn- 
ing to his respective man. The yankee made a re- 
luctant acknowledgment of what had been done the 
night before, and showed but little disposition to 
make restitution. The owner was nearly in a rage 
for the loss of his fine heifer, and was hard in his 
terms of settlement. While the Dutchman, as if to 
be rewarded for his honesty, found his neighbor,, 
when he had announced what he had done, and pro- 
posed to make satisfactory restitution, as ready to 
exact no more from him, than to dress the animal,, 
and to take half of the meat home for his own use. 
Another distinguished hunter of these early times,, 
and one that was considered pre-eminent above all 
the others for markmanship and daring feats, was- 



82 ANNALS OF 

Jotham Curtis, of Windsor, an uncle to the Mr. 
Rexfords, Druggists, in the village of Binghamton. 
An anecdote or two, related of him, will best express 
his celebrity. 

He went out of an afternoon to a deer-lick^ and 
having killed a deer, he dressed it and hung the 
body upon a tree, bringing only the skin home with 
him. This he threw upon a work-bench in an 
apartment of the house he used as a shop. In the 
night he was awakened by a noise which he sup- 
posed to proceed from a dog at his deer-skin. He 
sprung up and opened the door that led into his 
shop ; and about over the work-bench he beheld the 
glare oitwo eye-halls^ which he knew — so versed was 
he in the appearance of snch animals— to be those 
of a panther. Without taking his eye ^from those 
of the animal, he called to his wife to light a pine 
stick, and to hand it to him, with his rifle, which she 
did. With the torch in his left hand, and the gun 
resting upon the same arm, he took his aim between 
the eyes, and shot the panther dead upon the bench. 
It is related to have been a very large one. It had 
entered the shop through an open window. 

He was one day hunting, and came across two 
cubs. He caught one, and seating himself by a tree, 
with his back close to it, that he might be sure to see 
the old one when she should come up. He took the 
young one between his knees and commenced 
squeezing its head, to make it cry, which he knew 
would be likely to bring up the old one. In a short 
time she was seen coming with full speed, with her 
hair turned forward, an indication of rage, and her 



BINGHAMTON. 83 

mouth wide open. He waited deliberately, till she 
was near enough, and then, with his unerring fire, 
he brought her to the ground. Some one asked him 
afterward, what he supposed would have been the 
consequence had his gun missed fire ? O ! he said, 
he did not allow it to miss in such emergencies. 

As anecdotes of this nature are not uninteresting, 
and serve to illustrate the nature and habits of wild 
animals, we will relate one more of Deacon Stow, 
and an older brother of his. 

They went out to a deer-lick, called by the hun- 
ters Basin Lick, in the afternoon, with the design of 
setting their guns at night. They, however, pre- 
viously took stations, the brother at the Basin Lick, 
and Deacon Stow, then but a lad, at a station about 
twenty rods distance, to watch for deer, which often 
came on to the licks towards night. While at their 
respective posts, about sundown. Deacon Stow heard 
an uncommon noise, more resembling the squealing 
of pigs than any thing he could think of; and di- 
rectly he saw a she bear jump upon the root of a 
large hemlock tree that had been blown down, at 
the top of which he was sitting, with three large 
cubs close behind her. She appeared to be about 
weaning them, and her refusing to let them suck, was 
the occasion of their making so much noise. As 
she mounted the trunk at the root, she turned and 
was making her way towards the top, putting in 
jeopardy the life of the lad, who was just preparing 
to fire, when the brother, who heard the noise also, 
and understood what it was, had hastened down to 
the place, fired his piece, and dropped the bear from 



84 ANNALS OF 

the trunk ; and then threw his hat and made a loud 
outcry to frighten- the cubs up into the trees. He 
succeeded in treeing them ; but the old bear, who 
was only wounded, had made oif. They shot two 
of the cubs, but the third, dropping himself from the 
tree upon which he was, made his escape ; the 
younger brother not being allowed by the elder to 
shoot. This he had the precaution to do, that the}^ 
might have one loaded gun, in case the old bear 
should return upon them. 



CHAPTER VII. 

The earliest christian society that was establish- 
ed within the bounds of the settlement, was, as has 
already been observed, a Baptist church, formed 
under the ministration of Elder Howe, a very early 
settler in the place. 

The next christian society was a Dutch Reform- 
ed church, established in about the year 1T98. 

through the official labors of Mr. Manly, a Dutch 
Reformed minister. 

The building occupied by the Dutch Reformed 
congregation, as a meeting house, was a dweUing 
house, the chamber of which was fitted with con- 
veniences for public worship. Mr. Manly, the min- 
ister, with his family, lived in the lower part. The 
building stood about a mile above the village, on the 
Chenango, east bank, a little behind or back of Mr. 
Eben. Green's. It is yet in existence, and would 
not be distinguished from a barn? for which it is now 



BiNGHAMTON. 85 

■used. Mr. Manly preached alternately at this place 
and at Union, and thus divided his labors between 
the two places. His preaching and labors were 
continued to these congregations but a few years ; 
he left, and they were without a minister for some 
length of time. Their next clergyman was a Mr. 
Palmer. He revived the church and augmented its 
number. 

There were a few Presbyterians in the settlement, 
but not enough to form a church, till after the build- 
ing of the village. And when their numbers and 
interest became sufficient to form a church and con- 
gregation, the Dutch Reformed church differing so 
little from the Presbyterian, merged into it. A 
number, however, that were members of the Dutch 
Reformed church, removed to the Genesee. 

The state of morals from the first settlement to 
the building of the village, differed in no material 
respect from what is commonly exemplified in other 
new settlements. We might except, what is cer- 
tainly natural and important, that the most of the 
original settlers coming from a land then noted for 
" steady habits," gave a sanction and tone to good 
morals, which might not otherwise have been felt. 
While the inhabitants were few and scattered, they 
were under that moral restraint and motive to vir- 
tue, with greater freedom from incentives to vice, 
which are found to exist chiefly in the domestic or 
family relation ; especially when that relation is ex- 
empt from neighborhood broils, and more important 
collisions ; and when the general intercourse is no 
greater than what is friendly and cordial. 



86 ANNALS OF 

As the population increased, morals degenerated. 
The influence of the example of the many, is always 
bad. Hunting, with other idle and dissolute means 
of passing the Sabbath, became prevalent on that 
day. Intemperance crept in and prevailed the 
more when men could meet together in any consid- 
erable numbers. And as men became more numer- 
ous, they grew more selfish ; the bitter fruits of 
which were more and more apparent and felt. Soci- 
ety became divided into distinct classes ; trifling dis- 
tinctions made among its members calculated only 
to foster the pride of some, and the mortification 
or chagrin, or hatred of others. The charm of 
fellow-feeUng that bound them formerly together, 
was now broken. 

The first school house stood near the Dutch Re- 
formed church, and Col. Rose taught the first school. 
After a little while this school house was abandon- 
ed, and another one built near Mr. Bevier's. Ano- 
ther school house was built upon the west side of 
the Chenango river, nearly opposite the former. 
There was only school taught a few months in the ' 
winter season ; some winters passing without any. 
Their teachers,' without an exception, were for a 
series of years, of their own number ; and not 
ymmg men, but men of families. After Col. Rose, 
a son of Gen. Patterson taught. After him, a Mr. 
Fay. One Mr. Cook, who came with the Mr. Be- 
viers from Ulster county, taught a number of win- 
p(_ ters. After him, a Mr. Slighter. 

In 1791, that portion of Montgomery county 
which is now embraced within the counties of 



BINGHAMTON. 87 

Broome, Tioga and Chemung, was set off as one 
county, under the name of Tioga ; and Elmira, oth- 
erwise Newtown, and Binghamton, at that time call- 
ed Chenango Point, were constituted eacft half-shires. 
Jonathan Fitch and Joshua Mersereau were appoint- 
ed Judges. Judge Whitney was appointed a few 
years afterward. Morgan Lewis, who was after- 
ward Governor of the State, organized and con- 
ducted the first court under the new county's autho- 
rity and provision. It was held for that time at a 
Mr. Spalding's, who lived on the road to Union, a 
little beyond, or west of, Oliver Crocker's present 
residence. After this first one, the courts were 
held, when not held at Elmira, at Mr. Whitney's, 
until they were removed to the Court House in 
Binghamton. 

At the organization of the county, the first Jirst 
judge appointed was General John Patterson. His 
successor in the office of first judge was John Miller. 
Emanual Coryell was the third. G. H. Barstow 
the fourth. Let Burrows the fifth ; and G. H. Bald- 
win the last, before the division of the county, and 
the formation of Broome. Thomas Nickolson was 
the first Clerk of Tioga. The records of the coun- 
ty were kept a part of the time at Elmira, a part of 
the time at Binghamton, and a part of the time at 
Owego. At the last place the old records of Tioga 
county still remain. 

According to the limits which were fixed to the 
towns into which the new county was divided, that 
of Chenango extended from the Chenango river to 
Port Deposit, embracing the greater portion of the 



88 ANNALS OF 

eastern part of the county. The first town meeting 
was held at Oquago, when Nathan Lane was cho- 
sen supervisor, and George Harper town clerk. 
For several years the town meetings continued to 
be held at this place. 

Solomon Moore, who has already been spoken of 
as among the first settlers, built a log house upon 
the site of the present village, near as can be recol- 
lected, where Mr. Christopher long after built the 
first house in the rise of the village of Binghamton. 
He afterwards moyed to Vestal, and after residing 
there some number of years, moved back and pur- 
chased where his son, John Moore, now lives, on 
the south side of the Susquehannah, nearly one mile 
below the Susquehannah, or, as it is commonly de- 
nominated, the white bridge. A Mr. Enos, and a 
Mr. Sherwood, settled about one mile below Mr. 
Moore's ; and Mr. Nehemiah and Edward Spalding 
settled still farther down the river. 

Those who came in and settled on the east side 
of the Chenango river, and north of Bingham's Pa- 
tent, with some exceptions, took no title for their 
land, but merely squatted. At first, the proprietor- 
ship of the land was not much known or recognized. 
But when it became known, and the claims urged 
by the proprietor or proprietors, the greater part 
left and went farther west. Capt. Sawtell took a 
title for his land. The Beviers, when they came in? 
took titles. David Ogden and Capt. Quigley, who 
settled next beyond, or farther up the river, took ti- 
tles from the patent. Beyond these, Joseph Ogden, 
and next, Ezekiel Crocker ; then Capt Buel and his 



BINGHAMTON. 89 

son settled ; all took titles for their lands, and all 
within Clinton and Melcher's Patent. John Butler, 
from Vermont, settled for a few years on the oppo- 
site side of the Chenango from Capt. Sawtell's. 

In the year 1798, those living upon the Bingham 
Patent, or the great majority of them, had not taken 
titles for their land. In this year there was a peti- 
tion drawn up and signed by most of the inhabitants 
who had not as yet taken titles, and sent to Mr. Bing- 
ham, at Philadelphia. Mr. Ebenezer Park was the 
bearer of this petition. As it is brief, and couched 
in very respectful language, it may not be amiss, in 
order that its import may be understood, to insert it : 

" To the Honorable Wm. Bingham ; 
A petition from the inhabitants and settlers on said 
Bingham's Patent, on Susquehannah river, in the 
towns of Union and Chenango, county of Tioga, 
and state of New- York, humbly prayeth : 
That whereas we, your petitioners, having been to 
considerable expense in moving on said land and 
making improvements, we pray your honor would 
grant us three lives lease, and we will pay an annual 
rent for the same ; otherwise, let us know on what 
terms we can have the land, and your petitioners, 
as dutiful tenants, shall ever comply, 
Chenango, Feb. 15, 1798." 
This petition was signed by thirty-seven persons. 
A few objected, contending that Bingham had no 
right to the land. 

As the names of these petitioners, by being inser- 
ted, will assist in forming an estimation of the popu- 
lation at that period, as well as afford a knowledge 



90 ANNALS OF 

of the inhabitants who composed it, we shall give 
them. 

Abraham Sneden and Daniel Sneden, who lived 
where Henry Squires now keeps his public house ; 
Abraham Sneden, Junior, who lived where Judson 
Park now lives ; William Miller lived where Mr. 
Harder now lives ; Ebenezer Park, the father-in- 
law of Judge Chamberlain, who lived where Ira 
Stow and the elder Mr. Bartlett now live ; Joseph 
Compton lived a little east, upon the same lot ; Zach- 
ariah Squires and James and Asa Squires lived where 
Mr. Russ keeps his public house ; James Ford lived 
where Mr. A. G. Ransom has lately purchased, 
known by the name of the Moore farm ; Silas Moore, 
who lived where Mr. E. Brown now does ; Ezra 
Keeler and Ira Keeler, who lived where James Haw- 
ley now lives ; Joseph Lemerick, who lived where 
Edward Park now lives. Robert Foster and Ros- 
well Jay, who lived where Judson M. Park owns. 
Nathaniel Taggart, who lived where Elias Jones 
now does ; John Carr lived on a part of the present 
farm of Judge Chamberlain ; Arthur Miller lived on 
the farm where Gen. Whitney now hves ; Barna- 
bas and Solomon Wixon, who lived on the south side 
of the Susquehannah, where James Evans now hves ; 
Jonathan Dunham, who lived where Mr. Brigham 
lately lived ; Zebulon Moore, who lived where James 
Munsell owns, one mile below the village, on the 
south side of the Susquehannah ; Daniel Delano and 
Levi Bennett lived near Millville ; Samuel Bevier 
occupied a lot upon the Bingham Patent, that Arthur 
Gray afterward purchased ; James Lion lived at the 



BINGHAMTON. 91 

ferry, which he kept ; Abraham Carsaw and Wm. 
Brink, who Hved on the Rufus Park place ; Silas 
Hall, who lived where the wife of Andrew Moore at 
present lives ; Asher Wickam, who lived where Mr. 
Brown and Isaac Lion own ; Thomas Cooper, the 
father of Ransford Cooper, and Walter Slyter, who 
lived where Deacon Stow now lives ; Andrew Coo- 
per, who occupied the flat from Col. Lewis' Mills 
down to the red bridge ; David Compton, who lived 
on the farm and kept the tavern where Mr. Finch 
now lives ; Amos Towsley, who lived on the south 
side of the Susquehannah, opposite where Elias Jones 
now lives; Judge Chamberlain lived, though a httle 
after the date of the petition, on the lot with his fa- 
ther-in-law, Ebenezer Park. 

Judge William Chamberlain, with his wife, moved 
here from Dutchess county, in 1799. His father-in- 
law also came from the same county. He was ap- 
pointed Justice of the Peace in 1802 ; was appointed 
Sheriff of the county in 1817, which office he fell 
short a little of holding the full term of four years ; 
removed, it appears, through the influence of coun- 
tervailing politics. After this he was appointed As- 
sistant Justice. Held the office of Judge of Broome 
county, for seven or eight years. He has held an 
office in the Vestry of the Episcopal church of Bing- 
hamton, either as Warden or Vestryman, nearly 
ever since that church was organized. 

Before there was any village, there were few stores. 
One important means therefore of obtaining what 
might here be termed foreign articles, for a series of 
years, were from pedlars, who came in and purcha- 



92 ANNALS OF 

sed the furs and skins of the inhabitants, and gave 
them in exchange woollen cloths, hats and shoes. 

The first death that occurred in the settlement, 
was a Mrs. Blunt. She died the first summer of her 
coming into the parts. Her husband had settled up 
the Chenango river on the west side, upon the farm 
afterward owned by Deacon Stow. She died very 
suddenly, and her death appears to be well remem- 
bered by all the primitive settlers. The second 
death that occurred was that of a young man by the 
name of Barker, the son of a Mr. Barker who had 
but just come into the parts, in the year 1789, and 
had taken up a temporary residence with a Mr. 
Hurd, who then resided on the north side of the Sus- 
quehannah, between Mr. Bartlett's and the river. He 
died suddenly too, of a bilious colic. There was, at 
this time no physician to be called, otherwise he 
might have been saved. We shall mention also the 
third death in the place, both because of its early date, 
and because of the more than ordinary sympathy it 
excited. It was that of a young lady, who had, 
with her father, Nathaniel Lee, and the rest of his 
family, as early as 1789, migrated into this coun- 
try from Great Barrington, in Massachusetts. She 
was a young lady of more than ordinary accomplish- 
ments, as well as beauty, having come from a place 
of polished manners, and about eighteen years of 
age. Her father had taken up a temporary resi- 
dence with Mr. Ingersoll, who lived, it will be re- 
membered, on the west side of the Chenango river, 
and opposite the point. A few months after their 
arrival, she undertook to cross the Susquehannah 



BINGHAMTON. 93 

upon the ice to Mr. Thayer's, who, it will be also re- 
inembered, lived where Mr. C. Eldredge now does. 
It was in the latter part of the winter season, when 
the ice ;had become weakened ; it broke, and she 
sunk beneath it to rise a lifeless corpse. 

In the year 1793, there was a fever and ague pre- 
vailed, from which few escaped ; otherwise a uniform 
state of health prevailed for many years after the 
settlement of the country. 

At first there was no public burying ground set 
off. Those families in which death occurred the 
earliest, buried their lost relatives near home, upon 
their own farms ; the places of which would natu- 
rally become their family burying ground, and the 
place of interment, in some cases, for the immedi- 
ate neighborhood. 

Mr. Thayer, with several others, was buried upon 
a spot of ground on the bank of the little run that 
lets into the Susquehannah, a short distance above 
where he lived. In consequence of several heavy 
rains, so much of the bank was carried away as to 
leave bones exposed. The bones of Mr. Thayer 
were disinterred by the same means, and carried 
away by the stream ; no part of them being after- 
ward found but the scull. This was sacredly buried 
in another place. 

There has been observed near the bank of this 
run, for several years back, a monumental stone, 
rudely cut, bearing a date as rudely wrought, of 1795, 
but the figure nine so imperfectly cut, as easily to be 
taken for the figure seven. Thus several have been 
deceived, and read it 1775. This being a date so 



94 ANNALS OF 

long a time previous to the settlement of the coun- 
try, no one could satisfactorily conjecture what bu- 
rial it was intended to record. The stone was very 
recently found fallen down, and was carried to Mr. 
Brigham's barn, when it was found to read 1795, 
with the initials S. H. Thus bringing it within the 
time that the place has been used as a burying 
ground, and the initials supposed to stand for Sarah 
Hall. There was also found near the stone a coffin 
with two sets of bones ; the bones of one, uncom- 
monly large. 

There are still to be seen the vestiges of a some- 
what ancient burying ground near Deacon Stow's, 
on the bank of the river, and about one hundred rods 
west or south west of his house. This buiying 
ground was commenced about 1798 or '99. It was 
then shaded with pitch pine and retired, the road 
running further from the river than it does now. 
The first person buried there was a Mrs. Mansfield, 
whose husband lived upon the opposite side of the 
river. There was also a Mrs. Hall, the wife of 
Silas Hall, and Deacon William Miller buried there. 

The first burying upon Court Hill was about the 
year 1803. Mr. Benjamin Sawtell and Esq. Wood- 
ruff* cleared away the shrub oaks and small pines to 
make room for the burial of Mr. John Crosby, who 
appears to have been nearly the first who was bu- 
ried there. The spot was used as a burying place 
for the village until the several churches had built 
their respective edifices, and apportioned their own 
burying grounds. 

For two or three years immediately preceding 



BINGHAMTON. 95 

the date in which we are writing, that part of Court 
Hill occupied by the old burial ground, has been in 
a process of being considerably cut down, much be- 
low the ordinary depth of graves ; consequently the 
remains of many of these former dead have been ex- 
humed, and exposed to the careless gaze of the liv- 
ing. The remains of several, however, had been 
previously transferred to the other burying places 
of the village, when these places were first appro- 
priated to this sacred purpose. 

Judge Whitney had a family burying ground in 
the neighborhood of his own dwelling, where many 
of the Whitney family that have left the stage, now 
repose. 



CHAPTER VIII. 

Prior to the settlement either of Union or of the 
Chenango Valley, Col. Hooper, the patentee of the 
tract bearing his name, was sent by Bingham, Cox, 
and, it may be, others, to survey the shores of this 
part of the Susquehannah. He traversed it up and 
down, in an Indian canoe, managed by a faithiul 
Indian whom he employed. He would lie down in 
the canoe, with an Indian blanket thrown over him, 
and take the courses and distances with a pocket 
compass, in this incumbent position. This precau- 
tion he took through fear of being shot by Indians 
on the shore. After this survey, a purchase was 
made of the Susquehannah valley from the Great 
Bend to Tioga Point, At what precise period the 



96 ANNALS OF 

patents were obtained is not now known. Thomas' 
Patent embraced the Bend, and extended six miles • 
down the river ; then Bingham's Patent, extending 
from Tliomas' western Hne to some two or three 
miles beyond the village of Binghamton, two miles 
wide, lying equally on both sides of the river. Hoo- 
per and Wilson's Patent lay next, embracing a part 
of Union and Vestal, of the same width, and lying 
upon the river plain. This patent terminating west- 
ward where the line separates Broome from Tioga 
county, was sometime afterward divided by the pro- 
prietors by a line that ran through the centre of the 
old church in Union, when it stood upon its original 
foundation. The two patentees, at the time they 
made the division, gave to this congregation, which 
was then Dutch Reformed, each seventy acres of 
land. Next to the patent of Hooper and Wilson 
was that of Coxe's, which extended some miles be- 
yond Owego. These gentlemen were of Phila- 
delphia. 

Union and Vestal began to be settled about the 
next year after the valley of the Chenango was. It 
may be, one or two families were in the same year. 
The earliest settlers — though it is somewhat uncer- 
tain who was the very first — were Major David Bar- 
ney, who came down the river from Cooperstown 
in a canoe, with a large family of children, and set- 
tled in what is now called Vestal, a little below 
where his son Nathan now lives. In coming down, 
the canoe upset, to the extreme hazard of the lives 
of the children ; but they were all saved. Major 
Barney is said to have been cousin to Com. Barney. 



, BINGHAMTON. 97 

John Harvey, according to the testimony of his 
son, came into Union the same year that the Mr. 
Whitneys moved into the parts, and from the same 
county. He took up a temporary residence on the 
north side of the river, a httle below Jsaac Stow's 
present residence and inn. Daniel Harris was an 
early settler. He settled on the south side of the 
river, where Daniel Hyatt now lives. 

But the more prominent settlers of Union were 
Gen. Oringh Stoddard, one of the commissioners, it 
will be recollected, appointed by the Boston Compa- 
ny to treat with the Indians, settled near where his 
son, the present Judge Stoddard, afterward lived for 
a number of years, and where the Traveller's Inn is 
now kept. His brother, James Stoddard, who came 
out at, or near, the same time, settled in Lisle. 
Near the same time came Nehemiah Spalding also, 
and Walter Sabins ; the latter of whom was em- 
ployed by the Boston Company as surveyor in run- 
ning out their tract. These settled lower down, but 
on the same side of the river with Gen. Stoddard. 
Capt. William Brink, a Dutchman, and Henry Rich- 
ards, a Dutchman also, settled higher up the river 
from Gen. Stoddard's, and farther towards Bing- 
hamton ; Mr. Richards near where, it is believed, 
his son Jesse now lives ; and Capt. Brink, upon the 
farm that was afterwards owned by Rufus Park, 
and still called the Park place. 

Capt. Brink was from Wyoming ; was there in 
the time of the iee freshet ; lost all his cattle and 
other property in it. Capt Brink's name occurs in 
the History of Wyoming. He canie from Northum,. 



^.. 



98 ANNALS OF 

berland with thelPennimites, under Plunket, to drive 
the yankees from their settlement. From Wyoming 
he first moved to the Delaware river, where he stayed 
a few years, and then moved to this countiy. He 
lost all his improvements upon the Park place, and 
was obliged to begin anew. His hardships seem, to 
have given him a wonderful durability of constitu- 
tion. He lived to be 82 years old. When 70 years 
of age, he is said, by his son, to have cradled Jive 
acres of grain in one day. His courage and hardi- 
hood are proverbial to this day. As corroborative 
of this, it may be related, that, upon a certain time, 
himself, Mittinus Harris, and Isaac Underwood, 
went out a hunting in a tracking snow, up the Cho- 
conut. They came across a bear's track, and fol- 
lowed it to a pine tree, whose top was broken off^ 
and which was hollow. It was evident that the 
bear had entered the tree, and at the top. And in 
order to gain access to or rouse the bear, it was ne- 
cessary to cut down the tree. When it was near 
falling, they agreed upon Harris to take his stand, 
in order to shoot the bear as it came out. As the 
bear bounded from the tree, he fired, but did not 
kill. The dogs attacked it, and the bear was about 
running under a log or fallen tree, near where Capt. 
Brink was, when he laid hold of the bear's hind legs, 
and held on with Imnds and teeth., till Harris came up 
and knocked the bear, with the hatchet, in the head. 
Moses Chambers, the father of Joseph Chambers, 
of Bmghamton, settled on the Susquehannah, three 
miles below the village of Binghamton, in 1790 ; 
came from Wyoming ; was a sufferer in the ico 



BINGHAMTON. 99 

freshet. The gi'andfather of Joseph Chambers was 
an officer in the French war, and moved from Wy- 
oming to this country with his sons. 

Jeremiah and Benjamin Brown settled below Gen, 
Stoddard's, on the north side of the river. Col. Coe 
settled on the south side, nearly opposite the Mr, 
Brown's, upon the same river road, which was then 
but an Indian path ; and still higher up from Gen. 
Stoddard's, settled Ezekiel Crocker, something hke 
three-quarters of a mile east of where his son, Oli- 
ver Crocker, senior, now lives. 

Ezekiel Crocker was one of the sixty proprietors 
of the Boston Purchase. From Union he removed 
to the valley of the Chenango, near the Big Island, 
about two miles above Mr. Shaw's, Here but tem- 
poi'arily, and then moved down where his son David 
now lives, Mr. Crocker became one of the richest 
men in the county ; but died utterly poor. He lost 
a large share of his property by venturing largely 
into a speculation in salt, during the last war, 

Oliver Crocker came a little after his father, with 
his pack upon his back. He first worked land upon 
shares, as a tenant, under the elder Joshua Whitney, 
for two years ; and then found himself able to pur- 
clia^e four hundred acres for himself. He was 
young at this time, only about eighteen years of 
age ; and seems to have been inclined from the be- 
ginning to shift for himself. While employed in 
clearing his land, he lived, he says, for a length of 
time upon roots and heech leaves. He boarded, or 
rather tarried by night, with one William Edmin- 
Eter and his little family ; who were driven to near- 



* 



100 ANNALS OF 

ly the same straits. They were relieved, in some 
degree, by a scanty supply of cucumbers, and still 
later by a deer or two. As young Crocker assisted 
in shooting the deer, so he shared in eating them. 
He says that while reduced to these extremities for 
food, he would become so faint at his work that he 
would scarcely be able to swing his axe. 

Amos Patterson, afterward Judge of Broome 
county, was also one of the early settlers of Union. 
He settled at first about three miles below the vil- 
lage of Binghamton, and afterward purchased where 
his son, Chester Patterson, till within a short time, 
has lived. He took an active part in the formation 
of the Boston Company. He was one of those who 
came out first to view the country, and who made 
the proposition to the Indians. 

Joshua Mersereau, who was one of the earliest 
Judges of old Tioga county, settled in Union in the 
year the great scarcity was, 1789. He settled first, 
it is believed, upon the south side of the river ; but 
in a year or two removed to the north side of the 
river, upon the location where he lived for many 
years after. The house is yet standing, large and 
venerable, on the south side of the road, and some 
considerable distance from it towards the river ; and 
his farm or tract reached so far west as to extend 
to near the site of the present village of Union, 
He was an early agent for the Hooper and Wilson's 
Patent, and resided, previous to his coming to Union, 
at Unadilla for a year or two. John Mersereau, 
his brother, came in 1792, and settled first on the 
Vestal side of the river, but afterward removed over 



% 

BINGHAMTON. 101 

and settled upon the north side, where his son Peter 
now resides, the purchase embracing the site of 
Union village. 

These two brothers were from New Jersey. John 
Mersereau was from New Brunswick ; and Judge 
Mersereau moved, it is believed, from Woodbridge. 
They, however, before the revolutionary war, lived 
on Staten Island, and unitedly kept a large and im- 
portant tavern, at what is still called the Blazing 
Star. These two men were the first who commen- 
ced a line of stages from New- York to Philadelphia, 
uniting their line with the boats that plied between 
their own dock and New- York. John Mersereau 
introduced the ^rs^ post coach into the United States 
from England ; was the first to put on four horses 
to a mail stage, and was obliged to send to England 
for a driver ; only two horses before the same vehicle 
having been driven here before. Often four, and 
sometimes six, horses were put before the coaches of 
the gentry in our own country as well as in Eng- 
land, but they always had postillions upon them. 

When the war commenced, their stages stopped 
running ; and when New- York and Staten Island 
fell intoahe hands of the British, they lost their pro- 
perty on the Island, which was burnt ; and Judge 
Mersereau narrowly escaped falling into the ene- 
my's hand, a company having been despatched to 
take him at his own house ; his zeal in the Ameri- 
can cause having been early known to them. John 
Mersereau turned his horses, which had been em- 
ployed in the stage line, into the American service, 
and made an ofier of himself to Washington, who 



102 ANNALS OF 

often employed him on difficult expeditions, and as 
a spy. Esquire John La Grange's father was em- 
ployed often in the same capacity. 

Judge Mersereau was appointed Commissary 
throughout the war. He was much about the per- 
son of General Washington. The Judge, with his 
brother, were the principal instruments in prevent- 
ing the British army from crossing the Delaware 
river, in their pursuit of Washington. Washing- 
ton had crossed the Delaware about the first of De- 
cember, either to escape from the enemy, who had 
followed him through New Jersey, or to go into win- 
ter quarters. After crossing the river, he took ev- 
ery precaution to move all the boats across the river, 
and to burn all the materials on the Jersey side, not 
carried over, which might be laid hold of by the ene- 
my to construct rafts. Gen. Washington was ask- 
ed by Judge Mersereau, whether he was sure he had 
removed out of the way all that could be employed 
to transport the enemy across. Washington re- 
plied he thought he had. Judge Mersereau begged 
the privilege of re-crossing, and making search. 
He and his brother went back and searched the 
opposite shore, and found below the surface of the 
water two Durham boats which had been timely sunk 
by a royalist, who lived near. They raised them 
up, bailed out the water, and floated them over to 
tlie Pennsylvania side. When the British army 
came up to the Delaware shore, they found no pos- 
sible means of crossing, and were:obliged to return 
back, and pursue, at this time, our army no further. 

After the surrender of Burgoyne, Judge Merse- 



BINGHAMTON. 103 

Teau had charge of all the prisoners. It devolved 
upon him to provide for them. They w^ere con- 
ducted to Boston and from thence sent back to Eng- 
land. A British officer, one of the prisoners, was 
unwell, and asked of Mr. Mersereau a furlough to 
go out into the country, into 'some private family 
and recruit his health. The Judge sent him to his 
ownfamily, which was then residing in Springfield, 
Massachusetts. His family consisted of a young 
wife, and three little children. While the officer 
was in Mr. Mersereau's family, his health improved 
wonderfully ; he was able, in less than a week, to 
leave, and take also with him the commissary*s 
wife, who was never seen by him afterward. This 
new pair took with them also a span of fine black 
horses and chaise, with a large amount of silver 
plate. The youngest, which was a babe at the 
breast, the mother left with a neighboring woman, 
with money and clothes. This babe is now the 
widow Van Name, the mother of the Mr. Van 
Names on the Chenango, four miles a|)ove the vil- 
lage of Binghamton. Her husband's name was 
William Van Name, who settled where his sons now 
live, about forty-two years ago. The other two 
children are Lawrence and Cornelius Mersereau, 
both of Union. . 

Several of the Indians, whose particular location 
was at the Castle farm, had temporary huts or wig- 
wams in Union, near the river, and on both sides. 
These they occupied more or less for several years 
after the country was settled. 

Where, and in what manner, they obtained their 



104 ANNALS OF 

salt was always a mystery to the whites. They 
would strike a course over the mountain about op- 
posite Judge Mersereau's, on the south side of the 
river, and after an absence of about twelve hours, 
would return with a pail or kettle of salt ; and that, 
too, immediately upon their return, would be warm. 
Old Mr. Richards used to say, that the Indians would 
cross the river below Willow Point, rise the moun- 
tain and bring back salt. Sometimes it would be 
warm. He inferred that there must be a salt spring 
near, but it never could be found. John D. Merse- 
reau relates, that when a lad, his father and him- 
self have endeavored to follow the Indians when 
they were known to have set out for salt ; but they 
soon would appear to be apprehensive that they were 
watched, and would either remain where they were, 
or turn from their course. Never more than two 
would set out upon the expedition. They used the 
utmost precaution to prevent the whites from ever 
discovering the secret spot. They had other pla- 
ces to which they resorted for salt, one or more in 
the neighborhood of Oquago. Why these sources 
of salt have never been found by the whites is a 
mystery. 

John La Grange, Esq. of Vestal, came later, al- 
though in an early day. He moved from Elizabeth- 
town, N. J., when quite a young man, with a young 
wife, who was also of Elizabethtown, and of the 
Halsey family of that place. She was a woman of 
more than ordinary energy, at the same time ami- 
able and dignified in her manners, and extensively 
useful in her neighborhood. This much is thought 



BINGHAMTON. 105 

to be no more than a just tribute to her virtues. 
Upon coming here he purchased his lands of his 
uncle, Judge Mersereau, opposite to whom he set- 
tled. When he came, he was unacquainted with a 
wooden country, and even with farming itself. So 
that his partial success for a length of time, and his 
frequent irritations, from want of more experience, 
as well as the unpropitious aspect of a newly settled 
country, induced him many times to wish that he 
had stayed where the elements around him were 
less at variance with his knowledge and habits. His 
wife, however, would bear up his courage, or pleas- 
antly ridicule his little vexations. 

Esquire La Grange is of the fourth generation, 
in descent, from Mr. John La Grange, who was 
from France, and a patentee of a large tract of land, 
twelve miles square, embracing, it is said, a part of 
the site upon which Albany now stands. This pa- 
tent was purchased of the Dutch proprietor, John 
Hendrick Van Ball, in 1672. The patent deed, 
given to Van Ball by Francis Lovelace — otherwise 
Lord Lovelace, then governor of the colony of New 
York — is now in the possession of Esq. La Grange, 
as a relic of antiquity. The land of the patent, how- 
ever, went out of the hands of the La Grange family 
after the death of the old patentee, by an artful ma- 
noeuvre and slight of hand in law, attributable, it is- 
said, to the Van Rensselaer family. Not many 
years since, Esq. La Grange, in virtue of claims 
derived from his ancestor's patent, received, as one 
of the heirs, some two or three thousand dollars. 

Mr. La Grange has in his possession, as the 



106 ANNALS OF 

rightful heir, being the oldest son of his father, who 
was also the oldest son o{his father, and of the same 
christian name, a large silver tankard, embossed, 
after the ancient manner, with the family coat of arms. 
This tankard belonged to his remote ancestor John 
La Grange the patentee, and brought by him from 
France. He had also his ancestor's golden signet, 
with his initials and family coat of arms. He has 
also for it is our purpose to speak of all such spe- 
cimens of antiquity as may come to our knowledge 

a powder-horn curiously and ingeniously figured, 

which was found by an officer in Sullivan's expedi- 
tion, in an Indian wigwam. 

As there is a family chronicle which traces back 
the ancestry of ^he Mersereau family to their origi- 
nal country, France, it may be proper to insert it. 

The family is descended from a John Mersereau, 
a protestant, who was born in France, and who 
lived and died there. He is represented as being a 
strong athletic man, and very active. When young 
he studied law^ and went to a fencing and dancing 
school ; and then went to a saddler's trade. This 
business he followed extensively. Was captain of 
a company ; and often amused the officers and men 
by exercising the pike. He never went from home 
without his sword. One evening he overtook three 
friars. As he passed them, he said, " good night, 
gentlemen;" upon which they remarked, "he is a 
Hugonot, or he would have called us fathers." To 
which he rephed, " that he knew but one father, who- 
was in heaven." They drew their sabres from 
under their cloaks, and were about to attack him. 



BINGHAMTON. 107 

He desired they would let him pass and go his way. 
But they rushed upon him in such a manner that he 
was forced to defend himself. He killed one and 
wounded another ; the third made his escape. For 
this deed, however, he was never apprehended. He 
was in great credit ; kept the best of company, and 
died comparatively young. He left three sons : 
Joshua, Paul and Daniel ; and two daughters : Mary 
and Martha. The children all left France and went 
to England in the reign of James 11. , 1685. Popery 
prevailing here — for James was a Catholic — they 
sailed for Philadelphia. In consequence of distress 
of weather, the ship in which they sailed was obh- 
ged to put into the harbor of New-York. Paul re- 
mained in England. Daniel settled on Staten Island. 
Mary married John Latourette, and Martha married 
a Mr. Shadine, Their mother died in this country, 
and was buried in the French Church on Staten Island. 
Mary, who married Mr. Latourette, was in the 
great massacre of Schenectady, in 1690. She was 
scalped and left for dead ; all her children butcher- 
ed by the Indians ; her husband probably dead be- 
fore, or killed in this massacre. The nakedness of 
her skull was concealed and defended by a cap made 
for the express purpose. She spent the rest of her 
days with her brother Joshua, who, it is believed, 
lived on Staten Island also, and who was the ma- 
ternal great-grandfather of Esq. La Grange, and the 
grandfather of Judge Mersereau ; great-grandfather 
aJso of Peter Latourette, who early settled in Ves- 
tal, where his son Henry,, and David Ross now own 
and live. 



108 ANNALS OF 

Daniel Seymour, and Samuel his brother, who 
have already been spoken of as among the very first 
settlers, were next above Esq. La Grange in their 
location. ' Next below was Thomas Eldridge ; and 
then in order — still continuing down the river — was 
James Williams, Thomas Park, Matthias Dubois, 
and the younger John Mersereau. Ruggles Win- 
chell and Daniel Price settled back from the main 
road, about four miles. 

Peter Mersereau, now living about one half mile 
beyond the village of Union, who has been spoken 
of as the son of the elder John Mersereau, came over 
from the south side of the river with his father, and 
settled near him. Peter, when a lad of about twelve 
years old, while his father lived in New Jersey, was 
postillion for lady Washington from Trenton to 
Elizabethtown, on her way from Virginia to New- 
York, to join her husband. This was after the war, 
when Washington was about to be inaugurated 
President. ' At Elizabethtown a barge received her, 
rowed by thirty pilots. 

The village of Union was laid out into streets, and , 
lots of three-quarters of an acre in size, in 1836. 

The earliest physician of Union was a Dr. Ross, 
' who settled a little below the present site of the 
village. 

Beyond the village of Union, on the same side of 
the river, and between the village and Owego, the 
first settlers were in order, beginning from Lewis 
Keeler's present dwelling, Luke Bates ; next, 
William Roe, Daniel Reed, David Gaskill, Asa 
Camp, the father of the late landlord of Camp's well- 



BINGHAMTON. 109 

known Inn. Asa Camp is still living, where, it is 
believed, he first settled ; now very aged. He ser- 
ved in the revolutionary war, in the capacity of ser- 
geant, for four years ; commanded at Fort Freder- 
ick, on the Mohawk ; and with fifteen men in the 
fort eifectually repelled two hundred Indians and to- 
ries. When a flag was sent in for them to surren- 
der, sergeant Camp sent word back, " that yankees 
lived there ; and if they got the fort they must get it 
by the hardest." He was in the battle at White 
Plains ; was in one battle on the sea, near the banks 
of Newfoundland, and was also at Valley Forge. 

Next to Esquire Camp, came Isaac Harris' set- 
tlement, then a Mr. Dodge, and last, and farthest to- 
wards Owego, was Paul Yates. On the south side 
of the river, and nearly opposite Esquire Camp's, is 
Mr. John Jewell, still living. His settlement at this 
place was not so early as the rest that have been 
mentioned ; but he is now venerable in age, and 
therefore should be mentioned ; was a Judge, pre- 
viously to his coming here, in Dutchess county ; 
served in a part of the revolutionary war ; was par- 
ticularly in the battle at White Plains. Henry Bil- 
lings, still further up the river, and on the same side 
with Mr. Jewell, came in about thirty-five years ago. 
He gives an account of a great freshet in the Sus- 
quehannah, about thirty-one years ago ; and states 
also that fifty strings of beads, with broaches and 
other trinkets, were found after the freshet had sub- 
sided, having been washed from their beds of con- 
cealment, near where Daniel Harris then lived, and 
where Daniel Hyatt now lives. 



110 ANNALS OF 



CHAPTER IX. 

The village of Owego is named after a creek of 
the same name, emptying into the Susquehannali, 
about a half mile beyond it. The name is of Indian 
origin, and signifies sivift or swift river. 

Previous to the purchase of the Boston Company, 
James McMaster and Amos Draper, in about the 
year 1783 or '4, purchased of the Indians what they 
called a half township, comprising 11,500 acres, and 
embracing the site upon which Owego stands. Two 
of its boundaries were, on the west by the Owego 
creek, and on the south by the Susquehannah river. 
This purchase having been conducted legally, and 
being prior to their own, the Boston Company ce- 
ded to them the half township, though embraced 
within the limits of their own purchase ; which, it 
will be remembered, extended on the west to the 
Owego creek. 

In 1785, McMaster and AVilliam Taylor, still liv- 
ing in Owego, and then a bound boy to McMaster, 
came and cleared, in one season, ten or fifteen acres 
of land ; and through the summer planted and rais- 
ed a crop of corn fronn the same. This was the first 
transiilon of the ground, where Owego now stands, 
from a wilderness state. 

In 1794 or '5, McMaster and Hudson, a survey- 
or, laid out the village into streets and lots, and thus 
laid the foundation for what Owego is, or shall be 
hereafter. Ten years passed, or a little more, from 



BINGHAMTON. Ill 

die first felling of the trees, until the first steps were 
taken to constitute it a village. The pleasantness 
of the situation, being upon the banks of the Sus- 
quehanah, with nearly a level plain for its location, 
and the advantages of water power from the Owego 
creek, together with the prospect of a speedy settle- 
ment of the country around, determined these men, 
undoubtedly, in fixing upon this spot. 

Col. D. Pixley, another of the commissioners sent 
Gilt by the Boston company, it will be remembered, 
to treat with the Indians, settled, in a very early 
day, about one mile west of Owego, on a beautiful 
and level area of about 3000 acres. This purchase, 
for some reason, not now known,was called "Camp- 
bell's Location." Col. Pixley was from Stockbridge, 
Massachusetts, and when he moved into the parts, 
he brought with him a wife and three children ; 
David, Amos and Mary. The daughter is the wife 
of James Pumpelly, of Owego. David Pixley, jun. 
was a surveyor, and the father of Charles B. Pixley, 
a resident of Binghamton. Col. Pixley acquainted 
himself with the Indian language, and became there- 
by the more popular with them. Mrs. Pixley was 
eminently pious, and made her house a home for 
strangers, and especially for the missionaries and 
ministers of that early day. 

The sources of wealth, as the village grew up, 
were salt from Sahna, brought to the place and car- 
ried down the river in arks for Pennsylvania and 
Maryland markets. Wheat from the north, which 
was also transported down the river ; lumber, also, 
and plaster. 



112 ANNALS OF 

Some little distance beyond Owego creek, there 
settled in early day, one Jeremy White. Near 
what is now known as Swartwood's tavern, but for- 
merly and better known as Broadhead's tavern, 
there settled one Swartz. Still continuing down 
the river, and on the same side, near the mouth of 
Pipe creek, the first settlement was made by Corne- 
lius Brooks and Prince Alden. One mile and a 
half beyond, Nathaniel Goodspeed settled. In the 
same neighborhood also, settled Francis Gragg. 
Lodawick Light, still beyond, and about eight miles 
below Owego. Jesse Miller, the father of Jesse and 
Amos Miller, settled one mile this side of Smith- 
borough — a small village ten miles west of Owego — 
on the same farm upon which their sons now live. 
Samuel Ransom and Enos Canfield, still nearer this 
village, Abiel Cady and Jonas Williams settled, it 
is believed, on the other side ; that is, the east side 
of the river. 

Amos Draper, the same that purchased the half 
township of the Indians, settled himself where Smith- 
borough now stands. The father of Amos Draper 
>vas a tory in the revolutionary war. At this time, 
his family resided on the south bank of the Susque- 
hannah, in what was afterwards called Union, not 
far from opposite Judge Mersereau's. The sons, 
however, always differed in this respect from the 
father. This village, only a few years ago, was 
laid out into a village form by Isaac Boardman, who 
was sole proprietor of the ground. Boardman bought 

of Robert Johnson. 

Beyond the village of Smithborough the earliest 



BINGHAMTON. 113 

settl9rs were Jonas Pyers, Ebenezer Taylor, Ste- 
phen Mills. Mr, Mills is still living, and rising 
eighty years of age ; living, too, on the place he first 
occupied. Ebenezer Ellis lived four miles tliis side 
of Tioga Point. John Shepherd, three miles this 
side, and owned the mills on Cayuta creek. The 
grist mill was built by one Briant, and sold to Shep- 
herd. Enoch Warner lived just^beyond the second 
Narrows, on the Chemung river, being the next 
neighbor, in this early day, to Mr. Mills, on the 
road — or rather path at this time — to Elmira. John 
Squires settled opposite to Mr. Warner, on the 
western side of the same river. 

Between Owego and Tioga Point there were a 
number of Indians lived on the river plain for a 
length of time after its settlement by the whites. 
They demanded a yearly rent of the settlers for 
their land, until a treaty was held with them at Ti- 
oga, three or four years after the first settlement. 
An Indian, called Captain John, was their chief, or 
passed as such. They were always pleased to have 
white people eat with them ; and would appear of- 
fended, if, when calling at their wigwams when they 
were eating, they refused to eat with them. In 
seeking their rent, which they expected to be paid 
in grain, or when they wished to borrow, or buy, or 
beg, they never would ask for wheat, but always for 
corn. It is said, that some of the squaws could make 
an excellent kind of cake, out of fine Indian-meal, 
dried berries and maple sugar. When they wish- 
ed to beg something to eat, instead of expressing it 

in words, they would place their hand first on their 
8 



114 ANNALS OF 

stojnach and then to their mouth. This mute lan- 
guage must have been a powerful appeal to the hos- 
pitality and sympathies of their more fortunate breth- 
ren. When they had bad luck, it is said, they would 
• eat some kind of root which made them very sick 
and vomit, that they might, as they said, have better 
luck in future. 

A few years after the country was settled, there 
prevailed an extensive and serious famine. It was 
felt more particularly in the region between Owego 
and Elmira, embracing Tioga. It was experienced 
even down to Wyoming. For six weeks or more 
the inhabitants were entirely without hread or its 
kind. This season of famishing occurred immedi- 
ately before the time of harvesting. So far as the 
cause of this destitution was accounted for, it was 
supposed to result from a greater number, than usual, 
of new settlers coming in, and also a great scarcity 
prevaihng in Wyoming that season. This being a 
much older settled country, a scarcity here would 
materially affect the newer parts. 

During the prevalency of this want of bread, tlie 
people were languid in their movements, irresolute 
and feeble in what they undertook, emaciated and 
gaunt in their appearance. 

The inhabitants, as a substitute for more substan- 
tial food, gathered, or rather, it is believed, dug what 
were called wild beans ; which, it seems, were found 
in considerable quantities. These they boiled and 
ate, with considerable relish. Thev would alaD 
gather the most nutricious roots and eat. As soon 
as their rye was in the milk, it was seized upon, and 



bijn:ghamton. 115 

by drying it over a moderate fire, until the grain 
acquired some consistency, they were enabled to 
pound it into a sort of meal, out of which they made 
micsh. This was a very great relief, although the 
process was tedious, and attended with much waste 
of the grain. In the early part of the scarcity, while 
there was a possibility of finding grain or flour of 
any kind abroad, instances were not unfrequent, of 
families tearing up their feather beds, and sending 
away the feathers in exchange for bread. And in- 
stances also of individuals riding [a whole day and 
not obtaining a half of a loaf. During the time of 
this great want, however, none died of hunger. 
There were two young men that died in consequence 
of eating to excess, when their hunger came to be 
relieved by the green rye. 

Tioga Point was settled, as near as can be ascer- 
tained, in the year 1780, by John Shepherd, Dr. Ste- 
phen Hopkins, Col. Satterlee, Elisha Matthewson, 
David Paine, and Samuel Paine. They all purcha- 
sed their land of Col. Jenkins, who was a patentee 
of a tract of land embracing this place. 

The place was run out into streets and lots in 1786. 

Mrs. Matthewson, the wife of Elisha Matthewson, 
an aged lady, and widow, now living in the village 
of Tioga, was taken a prisoner at Wyoming, at the 
time that the fort, in which the inhabitants had taken 
refuge, was surrendered to the British and Indians, 
in 1778. The British and Indians, it will be re- 
membered, were commanded jointly by Col. Butler, 
a British officer, and the celebrated Brant. The 
American militia, by Col. Zebulon Butler and Col, 



116 ANNALS OF 

Nathan Denison. The disasters of the battle which 
preceded, and of the surrender of the fort, are as 
feehngly remembered as any part of the American 
history. 

The articles and capitulation, which were drawn 
up and signed on the 4th of July — just two years 
from the signing of a very different instrument — were 
entirely disregarded. The village of Wilksbarrc, 
consisting then of twenty-three houses, was burnt. 
Men and their wives were separated, and carried 
into captivity ; their property was plundered, and 
the settlement laid waste. The remainder of the in- 
habitants were driven from the valley, and compelled 
to proceed on foot sixty or eighty miles through 
swamp and thick forest to the Delaware, without 
food, and almost without clothing. A number _per- 
ished in the journey, principally women and children ; 
others wandered from the path in search of food, and 
were lost ; and those who survived, called the wil- 
derness through which they passed, " the shades of 
death ;" an appellation which it has ever since re- 
tained. 

Mrs. Matthewson was at this time about thirteen 
or fourteen j^ears old. She had a mother and little 
brothers and sisters, all younger than herself, deliv- 
ered up with the other prisoners of the fort. Her 
father, it is believed, fell in the battle that took place. 
She says the Indians, when they came into the fort> 
painted the faces of all that were in the fort. She 
was so young that she did not understand the object 
of it, but supposes it was done to distinguish them„ 
if found without the fort. She says that the Indi* 



BINGHAMTON. 117 

ans plundered the fort of every thing they could lay 
their hands upon ; even much of the clothing worn 
at the time by the inmates. After a day or two, they 
were discharged from the fort, and sent out forlorn 
and destitute, with scarcely clothing to their backs, 
with no provision, all having been seized upon, as 
well as their cattle and horses. This company, 
thus destitute, consisted almost entirely of aged or 
infirm men, of women and their children. The 
able bodied men having been cut off in the battle, to 
the number of three hundred. Turned out of home, 
in the midst of a wild wilderness, they look around 
for succor and can think of none nearer than their 
friends and relatives in New England, whence they 
emigrated. They turn their faces towards the De- 
laware river and set out to march through the dis- 
mal forest that lay between ; carrying their little 
ones, and progressing as the younger part, or more 
infirm, could bear it. 

Mrs. Matthewson says, that Avhen night came, 
they all were obliged to lie down under the open can- 
opy of heaven, without any covering, save that of 
angel's wings. She says they would look out a place 
to lie, in or near some httle bushes, such as alder 
or whortleberry, that they might have the partial 
covering their leaves afforded. They were sus- 
tained, she says, on their way, almost entirely bv 
whortleberries, a gracious provision which the sea- 
son afforded, without which thev must have starved. 

Afler several days they reached the Delaware at 
Strousburgh, where they met with two companies 
of the continental troops, who had been sent to the 



118 ANNALS OF 

succor and relief of the people of Wyoming, but too 
late. Here they remained a week or more, and re- 
ceived rations from the military stores of the two 
companies. After this she, her mother, and the 
other children, started for the mother's native New 
England. A horse was procured, by some means, 
upon which the mother rode and carried one or two 
of the younger children. The mother died soon 
after reaching her destined place, and the youngest 
child died on the way. 

To follow now the settlement up the Chemung 
river, Ebenezer Ellis settled four miles above the 
Point, towards Elmira. Enoch Warner settled just 
above the second Narrows ; John Squires opposite, 
on the other side of the river. Abijah Batterson, on 
the same side of the river, nearly as high up as 
Wellsburgh. This little village is on the south west 
side of the river, six miles south east of Elmira. 
Samuel Bidleman settled a few miles below Wells- 
•burgh, on the Elmira side of the river, where John 
Bidleman now lives. JudgeHenry Wells, of Wells- 

V' burgh, is the son of Abner Wells, from Orange 
county, the first settler of the place, and after whom 
it is called. Between Wellsburgh and Elmira, there 
settled on both sides of the river, Abraham Kelsey, 
James Mitchell, a Mr, Gardner, Samuel Middaugh 
Abraham Miller, first Judge and father of the pres- 
ent Abraham Miller, Lebeus Tubbs, from Wyoming, 
Parson Culvier — as he was popularly called — a Con- 
gregational minister, Rufus Baldwin, Wm. Jenkins, 

- Esq., from Wyoming also, Nathaniel Seely, John 
and Timothy Smith, Solomon Bavier, Judge Caleb 



BINGHAMTON. 119 

Baker, near Elmira, Lebeus Hammond, Esq., a little 
down the river. Mr. Hammond was the only per- 
son that made his escape of fourteen that were set 
down in a circle to be tomahawked by the Indians, 
after the great defeat at Wyoming. On the even- 
ing after the battle, the Indians, after their custom, 
set them down in a circle, a great number standing 
guard around ; they then commenced the deadly 
work, with the man sitting next to Esq. Hammond. 
But no sooner was this first one knocked in the 
head, and fell back, than he sprung and passed 
the ring, a volley of hatchets being thrown at 
him. He, however, cleared them. It is stated 
in a manner to be depended upon for truth, that 
Queen Easter, a celebrated squaw, who has already 
been spoken of, was the person appointed to execute 
the work of death upon these fourteen men ; which 
she achieved with as much adroitness and coolness 
of blood as any of their warriors would have done. 
Her place of residence was at Tioga Point. The 
soldiers of Sullivan's army having heard the part 
she took in that massacre, contrived, as they passed 
through the place, so to dispose of her as to leave no 
trace of her existence behind. At least, this is the 
supposition, as nothing was found of her afterward. 
Mr. Hammond was cap tared the second time. Ha- 
ving business about twelve miles from home, he set 
out under circumstances of some apprehension, at 
least according to the feehngs of his wife, who had 
gloomy forebodings as to his safety. The particu- 
lars of his capture have been received from a gentle- 
man residing in the immediate neighborhood of Esq. 



120 ANNALS OF 

Hammond, and well acquainted with him in his life- 
time : 

Sometime in March, of 1781, Mr. Lebeus Ham- 
mond, a citizen of Luzerne county, left his residence 
on the Susquehannah river, a few miles above where 
the village of Wilksbarre now stands, in search of 
a horse which had strayed from him. Hammond 
directed his course up the river for the distance of 
about ten miles, to a place he had formerly lived, 
where he expected to find his horse. According to 
his expectation he found his horse, and after making 
a bridle of hickory withes, he proceeded homewards. 
When within about five miles of his residence, he 
came to a clearing, where he found a Mr. Bennett 
and his son logging, with two yoke of oxen. He 
Stopped and conversed with them until the declining 
sun warned him that it was time to be on his way. 
He left them, but had gone little more than a mile, 
when he discovered several moccasin tracks in the 
joad ; he became alarmed, fearing that there was a 
party of Indians at hand. He stopped and listened, 
but could hear nothing ; he then proceeded at a 
brisk trot, expecting 6very moment to have his horse 
shot from beneath him, and had srone but a few hun- 
dred yards from where he had first seen the tracks, 
when two Indians sprung from behind a large tree, 
seized his horse by the bridle, and dragged him off 
the back of the affrighted animal. After a short 
consultation in the Indian tongue, which Hammond 
did not understand, they led him some distance into 
the woods, and fastened him to a tree with his hands 
tied behind his back. 



BINGHAMTON. 121 

In this situation they left him, and were absent 
nearly an hour when they returned, dragging with 
them Bennett and his son, having been joined in 
the mean time by four more Indians. The Indians 
appeared rejoiced at having taken Bennett, who, it 
appeared had been their prisoner once before, and 
had escaped. They immediately commenced their 
march up the Susquehannah river, making Bennett 
carryall the baggage they were in possession of; 
and travelled thirteen miles that evening, to where 
they encamped in an old building, situated near the 
river bank. The Indians were destitute of provi- 
sions, and the prisoners, though very hungry and 
faint, travelling with the burdens which they had 
heaped upon them, were compelled to lay down with- 
out receiving a morsel to eat. When they were 
preparing to lie down, the old Indian, who appeared 
to be their leader, went to the woods and cut three 
long poles, and then ordered the prisoners to lie 
down on a blanket which had been spread on the 
floor of the cabin ; he then laid the poles over the 
prisoners, when three of the Indians laid down on 
each end of them, in order to prevent the escape of 
their prisoners. In this distressing situation they 
passed the night. They remained at this place 
until about ten o'clock in the day, when a party of 
Indians came in canoes from the opposite side of 
tlie river, and took them over. When they reach- 
ed the shore, one of the party which met them gave 
each of the prisoners a large piece of jerked veni- 
son, which they devoured eagerly, having eat no- 
thing for nearly two days and a night. They left 



122 ANNALS OF 

the large party here, and proceeded up the river 
shore all that day, and at night they encamped on 
the river bank ; and the prisoners were secured in 
the same manner they had been the preceding night, 
and without giving them any thing to eat. 

The next morning they commenced their march, 
still pursuing the course of the river ; about ten 
o'clock the sun shone quite warm, and melted the 
snow which still remained on the mountains, and 
raised the small streams which they had to cross to 
a great height, but they braved all difficulties and 
persevered on, and late in the afternoon they arri- 
ved at a creek, which the Indians called MasJioppin, 
where the Indians killed a deer, which they skin- 
ned and carried the meat with them. The creek 
was swollen very much by the water which had run 
off the hills during the day, and they were com- 
pelled to go up its bank for several miles, before 
they could get across it. After they had reached 
the other shore, they proceeded down the same, un- 
til within half a mile of its junction with the Sus- 
quehannah, where they encamped for the night. 
After a fire had been kindled, they seated them- 
selves around it, and were roasting the venison 
which they had got this day, when the leader of the 
Indians, who spoke tolerably good Enghsh, com- 
menced a conversation with Hammond, and told 
him that he had expected to meet a large party of 
Indians at that place, but as they were not there, he 
supposed they had encamped higher up the river. 
He then asked Hammond various questions con- 
ceTnin.c; the war, such as, did he think there would 



BINGHAMTON. 123 

be peace 1 and stated that he had understood that 
the white men wished to make peace with the red 
men ; and whether he had ever known Lieut. Boyd ? 
Hammond told him that he was intimately acquaint- 
ed with him. The Indian then went and got a sword 
that lay a little way from where they sat, and drew 
the blade out of the scabbard, and with a smile of 
triumph said, "there Boyd's sword!" Hammond 
took the sword out of the hand of the Indian, and 
discovered the initials of Boyd's name stamped on 
the blade near the hilt. Hammond then gave the 
sword to the Indian, who appeared careful to return 
it to the place from which he had taken it, and re- 
turning again to Hammond, said, " Boyd a brave 
man, he as good a soldier as ever fought against the 
red men ;" and this Hammond supposed the savage 
well knew, for he had previously told him that he 
commanded the party of Indians that had massa- 
cred Boyd and his band of heroes, which consisted 
of twenty-four men, but one of whom escaped the 
hands of these merciless savages. Boyd, he stated, 
had been sent out on a scouting party by General 
Sullivan, when he and his party met them, and the 
bloody conflict ensued. We took Boyd prisoner, 
continued the Indian, and put him to death, by cut- 
ting off his fingers and toes, and plucking out his 
eyes ; but still brave Boyd neither asked for mercy, 
or uttered a complaint. He related to Hammond 
the manner in which Yost, a friendly Indian, who 
acted as a guide for Boyd, had been put to death, 
wliich was much more barbarous and cruel thaji 
tliat inflicted on Boyd. 



124 ANNALS OF 

Hammond sat in silence during all the time that 
the savage was relating the story of the massacre, 
knowing that it would be death to him to expostu- 
late or express his detestation of the hellish deed, but 
his bosom burned with rage, and he uttered a silent 
prayer to Him who rules the destiny of all, that 
means of revenging the murder of his countrymen 
might be placed within his reach. 

Here the Indian ceased talking to Hammond, and 
ordering the prisoners to lie down, they were fast- 
ened in the same manner they had been the two 
preceding nights. About midnight the wind shifted 
to the north, and it became so intensely cold, that 
Hammond and his companions in captivity nearly 
perished. At day-break the Indians loosened their 
prisoners and ordered them to kindle a large fire, 
and one of the Indians was set as a guard, whilst 
the other five laid down again and fell asleep. The 
Indian who had been set as a guard got the head of 
the deer which they had killed the preceding day, 
and with a spear held it into the fire to roast, and 
tlirew a blanket over his head and shoulders to shel- 
ter him from the north wind. After they had kin- 
dled a good fire and warmed themselves, Hammond 
asked leave for him and his companions to go to the 
creek, which was but a short distance ofi*, to wash, 
which the old Indian willingly granted. When they 
were done washing themselves, Hammond says to 
Bennett, " My friend, now is the auspicious moment 
for us to efiect our liberation from these barbarians, 
such a favorable opportunity may never again ofier, 
and you have already seen enough to convince you 



BINGHAMTON. 125 

that you will be put to death." Bennett unhesita- 
tingly agreed to make the attempt, it could only be 
death, and that he expected if he remained with them, 
and he might as well perish in an attempt to regain 
his liberty. The great matter then, was to deceive 
the old Indian so as to prevent him from discovering 
their intention, and giving the alarm to his savage 
comrades. To effect this, Hammond was to place 
himself at the opposite side of the fire from the old 
Indian, and engage him in an earnest conversation, 
whilst Bennett and his son were to come up behind 
him and seize the guns and spears ; the blanket 
which the Indian had thrown over his head, would 
prevent him from discovering them. The arrange, 
ments were now completed. Bennett stood ready 
with a spear to teminate the existence of the old In- 
dian, who had been set to watch them. Hammond 
stood prepared to leap over the fire the in- 
stant the blow was given, and lay hold of the tom- 
ahawks which lay near the heads of the savages, 
and with them to aid in despatching the other five : 
whilst the boy stood ready to seize the guns, and 
render all the assistance in the conflict he could. 

The signal was given, and Bennett drove the 
spear completely through the body of the old Indian, 
who sprang entirely over the fire and drew the spear 
out of Bennett's hand, uttering a most terrific yell. 
Hammond sprang over the fire, seized the toma- 
hawks, and prepared for the work of death. The 
Indian who had the command of the party that mas- 
sacred Boyd and his men, was first on his feet and 
gave the savage yell, " chee whoo ! chee whoo I'* 



126 ANNALS OF 

f 

when Hammond buried a tomahawk in his brains, 
and he fell headlong into the fire ; the next blow he 
made, he struck one of them on the side of the head 
immediatelv below the ear, who also fell into the 
fire ; and at a third blow he buried his tomahawk 
between the shoulders of a savage, who, on receiv- 
ing the stroke, made such a sudden leap, that he for- 
ced the tomahawk from Hammond, and ran some 
distance with it sticking in his shoulders. Bennett, 
having lost his spear at the commencement of the 
afii-ay, had seized a gun and despatched one of the 
Indians by beating out his brains with the butt of it. 
Not one of the Indians v/ould have escaped, had it 
not been that three of the guns were empty ; three 
of them having fired at a deer the day before, and 
had not re-loaded their guns. This rendered the 
boy almost useless in the struggle ; he having made 
three attempts to shoot, but had unfortunately got 
hold of an empty gun. One of the Indians escaped 
unhurt, and the one wounded between the shoulders 
crept away and hid himself. They then gathered 
up the blankets, guns and sword, and threw every 
tiling else into the fire ; and in their hurry they 
neglected to save any of the venison to take with 
tliem. 

They immediately commenced their retreat, di- 
recting their course up the Mashoppin, and at the 
distance of three miles from the place from wliich 
tliey had started, they waded the creek, taking the 
boy between them to prevent him from being swept 
c^Fby the stream, which had risen considerably 
during thp night, and was very difficult and dan- 



BINGHAMTON. 127 

gerous to cross. The morning was extremely cold, 
and they had proceeded but a short distance until 
tlieir clothes were frozen stiff, which rendered it 
very laborious and uncomfortable for them to travel. 
On their way home they kept behind the mountains 
and a considerable distance from the river, fearing 
that they would be pursued by the large party of 
savages, which one of the Indians had informed 
Hammond were in the neighborhood. The weath- 
er continuing cold, the snow, which was still of a 
considerable depth behind the mountains, was fro- 
zen hard enough to permit them to walk on the 
crust without falling through. This, whilst it en- 
abled them to travel much faster, rendered it almost 
impossible to track them. On the evening of the 
sixth day after they had been taken by the savages, 
tliey arrived at home, to the great joy of their fami- 
lies and neighbors, having travelled three days 
without a morsel to eat. 

Lieutenant Boyd's sword, which Hamniond had 
taken from the old Indian, was some years after- 
wards presented by him to Col. John Boyd, a bro- 
ther of the deceased. ^ 

Several years after the bloody transaction which 
had taken place on the bank of the Mashoppin, at an 
Indian treaty held at Newtown — the same that we 
speak of as taking place in 1790 — Hammond saw 
the old Indian he had wounded in the shoulders with 
a tomahawk, who walked with his head bowed down 
in consequence of the wound. Hammond, who was 
not altogether convinced that he was the same In- 
dian, and not wishing to make himself known to the 



128 ANNALS OF 

savage — if he was the same — requested a man na- 
med Jennings, to ask the old Indian the cause of his 
neck being so crooked. Jennings watched him, 
and an opportunity presenting itself, he asked the 
old savage the question, who promptly replied, " a 
d — d yankee tomahawked me at Wyoming !" This 
answer fully satisfied Hammond that he was the 
same Indian he had wounded at the contest on the 
bank of the Mashoppin. 

Mrs. Hammond herself was taken prisoner, and 
was among those who travelled through the wilder- 
ness called by them " the shades of death," to the 
Delaware river. 

Below Wellsburgh, and on the same side of the 
river, within the distance of six or eight miles of the 
village, there settled a Mr. McKeen, the father of 
Mr. McKeen, the United States Senator, Ebenezer 
Green, Abijah Batterson, Samuel Westbrook, Elias 
Middaugh, Green Bentlry, near Wellsburgh, after 
whom Bentley creek was named, Abraham Bennet, 
•Asa Burnham, Abiel Fry, Thomas Kenney, Elder 
John Goff, who was the first minister of that region, 
was of the Baptist order, and a useful man in his 
day. He came from Wyoming, and settled on the 
Chemung Flats in 1786. The Baldwin family set- 
tled about the same time opposite Wellsburgh. John 
Hillman came about the same time, and settled a 
little lower down. 

The person who first broke the ground for civili- 
zed settlement, in the region which was destined to 
embrace the village of Ehnira, with its suburb neigh- 
borhood, was Col. John Handy. He was of New 



BINGHAMTON. 129 

England origin, and emigrated thither from Tioga 
Point in the year 1788. A few years previous to 
this, he had moved from Wyoming. The precise 
spot of his settlement was, it is believed, where the 
venerable Col. now lives ; which is something more 
than two miles above the village, on the banks of 
the Chemung. He lives still in his primitive style, 
in a double log house, retaining the manners and 
bearing of the generation that has just gone by, of 
which he is a happy representative. He is highly 
esteemed in the village and its vicinity, as a survi- 
ving hero of the revolution, as the first pioneer in 
the settlement of the country, and as the friend, the 
paternal friend, of the generation that has grown up 
around him. 

The second person who made a permanent settle- 
ment within the range of Elmira village, was John 
Miller, afterward first Judge of Tioga county, who 
also settled immediately upon the banks of the Che- 
mung, upon a farm now occupied by Captain Par- 
tridge. Thomas Handy, a relative of the Colonel, 
was the third. In the same year, and in the follow- 
ing, (1789) there came several families and settled 
on the south side of the river, now called Southport, 
and connected to Elmira by a bridge. 

The same year, it appears, in which Col. Handy 

settled on the Chemung, that section of country was 

surveyed by Gen. James Clinton, Gen. John Hathorn, 

and John Cantine, Esq. as commissioners on the 

part of the State, and the land estimated and sold 

at eighteen pence per acre. But a little previous to 

this. Judge Gore and Gen, Spalding, from Tioga. 
9 



130 ANNALS OF 

Point, rented the lands lying between the Pennsyi. 
vania line on the south, the pre-emption line on the 
west, the two lakes on the north, and the Chemung 
Narrows on the east, for ninety-nine years. Wheth- 
er this transaction was recognized by the commis. 
sioners is not known. 

In the year 1790, Elmira was signalized with the 
presence of between eleven and twelve hundred In- 
dians, who had met from various and distant parts 
of their wilderness country, for the purpose of hold- 
ing a treaty with the United States. The distin- 
guished Timothy Pickering was the principal nego- 
tiator on the part of the government, and Guy Max- 
well acted as his secretary. On the part of the In- 
dians there were their most distinguished chiefs, 
such as Red Jacket, Corn Planter, Big Tree, and 
others, to watch over, elucidate, and defend the wa- 
ning interests of the several tribes. 

In 1792, Nathaniel Seely built the first frame 
house in the village of Newtown, or Elmira. Moses 
De Witt, the year previous, (1791) laid out the vil- 
lage of Elmira ; and in honor of whom the village 
was first called De Wittsburgh. For some reason 
it soon changed its name to that of Newtown ; this 
name it changed to that of Elmira, 

In 1797, the village was honored with the visit of 
no less a personage than Louis Philippe, the present 
King of France, with two French noblemen accom- 
panying him : the Duke de Nemours and the Duke 
de Berri, They came on foot from Canandaigua, 
with letters of introduction from Thomas Morris, to 
Henry Tower, Esq., who then lived in the village 



BmGHAMTON. 131 

of Elmira. Mr. Tower, after his distinguished 
guests had tarried some number of days under his 
hospitable roof, recruiting their weary hmbs, and 
enjoying the social parlance of their hosts, took them 
in a boat he fitted up for the purpose, down to Har- 
risburgh. 

Southport, which is a beautiful and extended plain, 
on the south side of the Chemung, and the central 
part immediately opposite Elmira, was settled, as 
has been just stated, the first and second years after 
the settlement of the north side, by Judge Caleb Ba- 
ker, who still lives upon the sod that received its 
first cultivation from himself. John and Timothy 
Smith, Solomon Bavier, Lebius Hammond, Esq, 
William Jenkins, Esq., still living, Rufus Baldwin, 
still farther down the river. Parson Culvier, a Con- 
gregational minister, Lebius Tubbs, the father of 
Mrs. Hammond, Judge Abraham Miller, and Sam- 
uel Middaugh ; whose names have been mentioned 
before. 

This plain, it should be stated, had, previously to 
its settlement by the whites, been cleared — so far as 
they clear land — and cultivated by the Indians. 
When Gen. Sullivan passed up on his expeilition, 
he found it covered, in immense patches, with grow- 
ing corn, from Post's Corners to beyond Elmira, a 
distance of five miles or more. The destruction of 
this corn occupied portions of the army for several 
days. 

In corroboration of that which is said to have 
given rise to the Indian word Chemung, as appropri- 
ated to the river of that name, Judge Baker relates, 



1S2 ANNALS OF 

r 

that a few years after his settlement upon its plain^ 
he was passing up or down the river in a canoe 
with one or two others, and at the shore, near what 
is called the Second Narrows, when they were about 
to disembark, there was observed, under water, 
something protruding out of the bank, looking like 
the root of a tree. It was spoken of as a curious 
root. Judge Baker requested one of the men to get 
into the water and examine it ; and, if possible, to 
draw it out or break it off. It was soon found to be 
no root. Their curiosity was increased, and ail 
wot into the water to wrest it from the bank, in 
which it was partly embedded. They succeeded in 
getting it out, and found it to be a perfect, though 
an immense, horn. It measured, from one extremity 
to the other, nine feet in the curve, and was six feet,, 
measuring in a straight line. It was somewhat cor- 
roded by time, though not enough to materially ef- 
fect either its form or coherency. As not much at- 
tention could then be paid to curiosities, it was neg- 
ligently left at a blacksmith's shop, for a long time. 
Judge Baker intended to have it taken care of, and 
to have it examined, if practicable, by some compe- 
tent naturalist. It was left at the blacksmith's shop, 
as nearly as the writer can recollect, to have a band 
put round, where it was split. After a while, the 
horn was missing. The blacksmith having an op- 
portunity of disposing of it for a paltry sum, sold it 
to a pedlar ; and it was taken to some of the New 
England states, and has not been heard of since. 
A Capt. McDowell, who was taken prisoner by the- 
Indians, and some time with them,, saw pieces of s. 



BINGHAMTON. 133 

¥ery large horn, which the Indians said their fathers 
had found in this river, and therefore gave it the 
name of Chemung ; which signifies Big-horn. Capt. 
McDowell, who saw the horn found by Judge Baker, 
said he had no doubt but the two belonged to the 
same animal. Of what species that animal was, is 
for learned naturalists to determine. 

Among the early settlers of the inllage of Elmira, 
may be mentioned Daniel Cruger, who opened the 
first store ; Cornelius Low, and his partner Jacob 
Emmons, who were merchants also, and simulta- 
neous with Mr. Cruger, John Conkle, Esq., the first 
Postmaster, and afterward, it is believed, was State 
Senator ; B. Payne, who was afterward Judge. 
Judge Payne, in company with William Dunn, 
built the first grist-mill in the village neighbor- 
hood ; John Stonher, whose avocation is not now 
known ; Peter Loop, an attorney ; Vincent Mat- 
thews, who was considered in those early times the 
first lawyer in the place ; Joseph Hinchman, who 
was the earliest physician settled in the village ; 
William Miller, an early trader with the Indians ; 
Nicholas Gale opened the first tavern ; and last, 
though not least in importance, Simeon R. Jones 
was the first settled minister. 

These few founded a 'present village, but a pros- 
pective city ; whose thousands of inhabitants, in their 
successive generations, are to reach down, in all 
probability, through the millennium to the latest age 
of the world. 



134 ANNALS OF 



CHAPTER X. 

In early day, Sylvanus Delano settled a short 
distance below Gen. Waterman's dam, called the 
rock-bottom dam, and a little above the same dam, 
Levi Bennet settled. 

According to the story told to some of the early 
settlers by Indian Seth, there were two men — wheth- 
er Indians or white men does not appear — long before 
the country was settled by the whites, on the bank 
of the Susquehannah, somewhere between the rock- 
bottom dam and the dry bridge — burnt to death at 
two pitch-pine trees. Upon these two trees the fa- 
ces of the two men were carved, evidently by Indian 
hands. These hyeroglyphical representations of 
human suffering and death were to be seen for years 
after the country was settled ; though possibly seen 
but by a few. 

To give also the names of the early settlers, from 
Mr. Bennet's to the Great Bend, upon the river road,- 
and that too in their order, we should mention, first 
Joseph Compton ; then, one Mr. Hungerford ; next. 
Mr. Slighter ; Thomas Cooper ; Noel Carr ; Mr. 
Wickam ; Ebenezer Park ; Mr. Miller ; David 
Compton ; Mr. Sneden ; Mr. Lommeree ; John 
Bell ; Asa Squires ; Nathaniel Tagot ; Asa Rood ; 
Peter Wentz ; Daniel Chapman ; David Bound ; 
Garrit Snidaker; Jonathan Bennet, a very early 
settler ; Ralph Lotrip ; Waples Hanth, at the mouth 
of Snake Creek. And at the Bend, a Mr. Merry- 



BINGHAMTON. ' 13& 

tnan ; Jonathan Newman ; Jonathan Dimon, very 
early ; Joseph Strong and Henry Smith. Asa 
Adams and Jedediah Adams settled about one mile 
and a half above the mouth of Snake creek, on the 
south side of the river. 

The Great Bend was first settled in 1787, the 
same year in which the valley of the Chenango was, 
by Maj. Buck — afterward Rev. — and his son Icha- 
bod, better known, however, by the name of Capt. 
Buck. They settled opposite what was called 
Pleasant Island, on the north side of the river, a 
little above the ^^ painted rocks.''' The rocks upon 
the southern shore, at the place alluded to, come 
quite down to the river brink, and stand perpendic- 
ular in stratas to the height of thirty feet. Some 
parts of them formerly presenting quite a smooth 
surface. Upon this surface the early settlers found 
painted in an ingenious, though rude, style, the re- 
presentations of various animals, such as panthers, 
bears, wolves, and wild cats. They have, however, 
long since been defaced, so as now to be invisible. 
They were evidently painted by Indians ; but when, 
or by whom, is not known. The Indians cotempo- 
rary with the early whites know not. Capt. Bena- 
jah Strong, a year or two after the first settlement, 
settled on the south side of the river, where the tav- 
ern stand now is ; Ozias Strong settled on the north 
side, where Esq. Thompson lived for many years, 
and where Loure Green now lives ; Jonathan Ben- 
net afterwards deacon in the Congregational 

Church at the Bend, settled where the Mr. Thomases 
now live ; a Mr. Mitchel settled at what has since 



136 ANNALS OF 

been called Harmony, These constituted the ear- 
liest settlers at the Bend and its immediate neigh- 
borhood. They purchased their lands of Mr. Fran- 
ces, of Philadelphia, whose patent embraced this 
part of Susquehannah county. 

Previously to Maj. Buck's settling at the Bend, 
there was a man by the name of Holton, and some 
few associates with him — Ganson and Fairbanks 
were the names of two of them — found their way to 
these banks of the Susquehannah, and located them- 
selves for a while upon them, living a sort of buc- 
anier life. It is said that they fled from Shay's re- 
bellion in Massachusetts, soon after the war. Their 
stay, however, was only temporary. They are sup- 
posed to have killed two Indians that came up from 
Chenango Point, to gather apples from their trees at 
the Bend. These were three large and noted ap- 
ple trees, which stood, and either all or a part do 
still stand, not far from the northern abutment of the 
bridge. One of these that were slain was called 
Ben Shanks. It was known that he belonged to the 
Indians at Chenango Point. 

Antonio — or, as the name is more commonly 
spelt, Antone — the chief of the Indians at Castle Farm, 
and indeed of the Indians of this entire section of 
country, informed Capt. Buck that there were two 
white persons put to death at the Bend. They were 
prisoners who were brought from the Chemung — 
one was shot in attempting to make his escape across 
the river. The other was put to death at the " three 
apple trees," before alluded to. The bones of whom 
were found and religiously buried by Capt. Buck. 



BINGHAMTON. 137 

One George Andrews and a Dutchman were ta- 
ken prisoners, some few years, it is believed, after 
the war, from near the Delaware, and carried by the 
Indians up the Chenango river, where they intended, 
it appears, to execute them. While here, Andrews 
overheard the Indians, who were four or five in 
number, talking, during the night, among themselves 
of executing their prisoners the next night or next 
day. 

Andrews, at a convenient time, ma(le this known 
to his companion, and proposed to him, that they 
should make a desperate attempt to effect their es- 
cape. The Dutchman cowardly shrunk from the 
proposition. Andrews, therefore, made no reliance 
upon his comrade, but laid his plan for his escape : 
which he effected, by killing, nearly or quite, the 
whole party. 

There was a tribe of Indians, a remnant of the 
Delawares, that resided before and during the war, 
at what is now called Deposit. The place was call- 
ed by the Indians " the Cook House." By this 
name it was known in the time of the war. 

Tom Quick is spoken of as a famous Indian hun- 
ter, though nothing more is known of his history by 
the writer, except so much as this : that his feats 
were performed generally upon the Delaware river. 
Ben Shanks and Hotashes, whose names are barely 
known, not in connection with any event, were ro- 
ving Indians, that were considered as outlaws, and 
belonging to no particular tribe. 

Antone informed Captain Buck also, that 
he was a descendant of the Delawares that were 



138^ ANNALS OF 

defeated in what was called the grassliopper imr, at 
Wyoming. Hence we learn the chief's origin; 
and hence may infer the probability that the few of 
the Delawares that surrvived that war, settled here 
at Chenango Point and at Oquago. 

Capt. Buck is now about eighty years of age^ 
living retiredly seven miles up Snake creek. He 
retains his mental and bodily faculties to a remark- 
able degree. It is remarkable, that almost all the 
revolutionary men have their age, accompanied with 
unusual vigor of body and mind, protracted beyond 
ordinary limits. Capt. Buck, as well as his father, 
served through a considerable portion of the war, en- 
gaged particularly against the Indians and British on 
the Mohawk under Gen. Ranselo. 

Capt. Buck relates the anecdote, that while a part 
of the scene of war lay in the neighborhood of the 
Mohawk, Capt. Brant had straggled from his troops, 
some little distance ; and rising a steep hill, when 
near the top, he suddenly met an American officer 
whom he well knew, and who was rising the other 
side, and had made the same approximation towards 
the top. They came very suddenly upon each oth- 
er. They both drew up, instanter, their rifles, with 
which it seems they were armed, and fired ; they 
then drew their swords ; but before coming quite 
within the reach of these weapons, Capt. Brant turn- 
ed and fled ; and the American Colonel at full speed 
after him. The issue of the strife, for some time, 
remained doubtful. The Colonel would gain a 
little, and would come near enough to reach his 
enemy ; but necessarily coming partially to a stand. 



BINGHAMTON. 139^ 

while making the Uow, he would loose ground ; 
which it would take him some little time to recover. 
In this manner he made several ineffectual passes 
at Capt. Brant, only now and then marking his back 
with the extreme point of his sword ; and at length 
gave up the chase. These two men, after the war, 
met at a treatVyand Capt. Brant pleasantly remark- 
ed to the Col. that it was not gentlemanly to mark 
another upon his back. 

Daniel Buck, who has already been spoken of, as 
first in the settlement of the Bend, being of good 
natural parts, and having received, for the times in 
which he lived, a more than ordinary education^, 
though not classical ; of a ready utterance also, and 
possessing a zeal beyorjd his compeers, for the hon- 
or and advancement of the christian religion ; after 
expressing his desire for the ministry, he was re- 
ceived into that sacred office. Pursuant to this,. • 
the Rev. Mr. Badger, a brother to Lemuel Badger, 
of Oquago, was sent out from New Concord to or- 
dain Mr. Buck, who was also, by the same Rev. gen- 
tleman installed the pastor of the Congregational 
church of the place. 

This infant church, the earliest instituted of any 
in our entire section, had been organized the year 
before, 1789, by a Mr. Stephens from Albany coun- 
ty. It was composed, at first, of the following mem- 
bers : Jonathan Bennet,. jun., Asa Adams, a Mr. 
Merryman, Oriah Strong, Gratia Strong, Benajah 
Strong, jun., James Mitchel, and James Mitchel, jun.,. 
Moses Bnnnet, Stephen Murch, a Mr. Bishop, and 
Nathaniel Gates, with the wives^ generally, of these 



140 ANNALS OF 

men. These families must have composed nearly 
all the settlers of that neighborhood. Indeed, it is 
said that, in nearly all the families from the mouth 
of Snake creek to Harmony, beyond the Bend, morn- 
ing and evening prayers were offered ; and not one 
family in this whole distance, in which there was 
not one or more of the members pious. But in the 
course of five and twenty years, instead of nearly 
all the families being pious, not but two or three 
were to be found entitled to that sacred epithet. 

This declension took place some years before the 
death of Mr. Buck, their minister. The causes of 
so great a change are not particularly known, ex- 
cept we refer it to the general depravity of men. 

The death of Mr. Buck took place in 1814. After 
this event, infidelity, by many, was openly and pub- 
licly avowed ; and its abettors went so far, as to 
hold their meetings on the Sabbath, and to read 
Paine's " Age of Reason," to the multitude. They 
showed their hostility to the christian religion, by 
attending meetings for divine worship, and either 
succeeding with their's immediately, before the 
christian congregation had dispersed ; or they would 
commence before the stated hour of christian wor- 
ship. Meetings then were held in a school house, 
in which the whole community felt they had an equal 
a'ight. The magistrate of the place, however, who 
took a part in this demoralizing cause, too active 
for his own interest or lasting reputation, was, in 
consequence, finally deposed from his office. 

The congregation here was destitute of a stated 
ministry from the death of Mr. Buck until about the 



BINGHAMTON. 141 

year 1830. In 1824, a Baptist church was formed' 
by Elder, and also Judge, Dimmick, of Montrose ► 

In the summer of 1827, three or four Indians 
were down from Oneida to the Bend, whose object 
was to dig for treasures, that had long before been 
hidden. The little party consisted of a very old 
man, one that passed for his son, and a young fe- 
male, who passed as grand-daughter, and who ser- 
ved as interpreter. The treasure which they ob- 
tained from digging in different places, was said to 
be considerable. It was carried away upon a horse,: 
which they had brought for the purpose. The old 
Indian must have been one who had formerly resi- 
ded in the parts. 

Putnam Cathn, Esq., a gentleman of professional 
education, settled first, and early, in Oquago, but 
for some twenty years he has resided at the Great 
Bend. He has a situation of sufficient beauty to be 
called a seaU upon the bank of the Susquehannah, 
a moderate distance from the bridge, and upon the 
south side. He is the father of the much celebrated 
George Catlin, who has, beyond all controversy, 
immortalized his name, by his "Indian paintings." 

Whilst the vicinity of the Great Bend has not a 
large and flourishing population, with correspon- 
dent improvements, to boast of; it stands upon, and 
is surrounded by, a scenery beautiful as the pencil 
of nature could well have rendered it. The beauty 
of its scenery will undoubtedly attract to it, as the 
country becomes settled, gentlemen of taste and 
fortune. 



142 ANNALS OF 



CHAPTER XI. 

Old Oquago, now Windsor, is distinguished as 
having been the ancient dweUing place of a tribe of 
Indians ; evidently, too, for a long series of years. 
It is situated upon the Susquehannah river, near the 
northeast angle of the Great Bend, fourteen miles 
in a straight course from the village of Binghamton. 
It appears to have been a half-way resting place for 
the "Six Nations," as they passed south to Wyoming 
or its neighborhood ; or for the tribes of the Wyo- 
ming valley as they passed north. Their path over 
the Oquago mountain, . and also over a mountain 
this side, nearer the village, was worn very deep, 
and is still plainly visible. From the point, at the 
village of Binghamton, they appear to have uniform- 
ly struck across to Oquago, instead of following the 
curve of the great bend of the river. It is a beau- 
tiful vale, from three to four miles in length, and 
from a mile to a mile and a half in width on both 
sides of the river ; with an easy and nearly regular 
slope to the top of the hills that run parallel with the 
stream. 

The evidence we have of its great antiquity, and 
of its distinction at some date or other, is, from the 
numerous and valuable trinkets that were found by 
tiie whites when they came to dig and plow upon its 
plains. The apple trees also found growing there, 
of very great size, and of apparently great age ; their 
number, too, and the variety and richness of the 



BINGHAMTON. 143 

fruit ; all indicated the antiquity and importance of 
the place. A great number of human bones from 
various depths below the surface, were thrown up 
from time to time. Some of these were of peculiar 
formation. A scull was found with the lower jaw 
attached to it, which had an entire douUe roio of 
teeth ; a single row above, but all double teeth. 

Deacon Stow, who grew up on these plains, men- 
tions two kinds of trinkets which he had often found 
himself. One, of a tringular form about an inch 
from angle to angle, made of silver, and flat, of the 
thickness of a ten cent piece, with a hole near one 
angle ; supposed to have been worn for a pendant, 
at the nose. Another, of silver also, made of a 
gridiron form, and about the circumference of a 
half dollar. Supposed to have been worn at the 
ears. 

There were the remains, or rather the entire 
form, of a fortification, near the river, plainly to be 
seen by the primitive settlers. It was so construct, 
ed as to meet the enemy from the river. From \ha 
appearance of its recent construction when the 
whites settled the country, the impression was, that 
it was erected when Gen. Clinton passed down the 
river, in his Indian cxpecition. Behind it were 
found many war implements. It is most probable, 
however, that it was constructed long before this, as 
it does not appear that the Indians made any resist- 
ance at this place, or even showed themselves. The 
story of them is, that at the time the waters of the 
Susquehannah were — to them preternatu rally — rais- 
ed to an overflowing of its banks, in consequence of 



144 ANNALS OF 

Clinton's breaking away his dam at the outlet of the 
Lake, they were very much alarmed upon observ- 
ing it, and supposed the Great Spirit was about to 
drown the world ; and at the approach of an army 
so soon after, they were terrified, and fled with pre- 
cipitation behind the distant mountains ; taking 
time only to bury their most valuable articles. 
These they disinterred upon their return ; which, 
as the same tradition says, consisted principally of 
pewter vases, trinkets, one or two iron kettles and 
a grindstone. 

If this tradition is true, it is true only of those few 
that remained in the valley ; the larger part of them, 
embracing their chiefs and warriors had left at the 
commencement of the war, and had joined those of 
their brethren that were in arms against the colonies. 
They might have been home the winter previous to 
the expedition, as it appears that Capt. Brant, and, 
most probably many others of the chiefs and warri- 
ors took up their winter quarters in Oquago. At 
the commencement of the war, the Indians of this 
place told their missionary — whose name is not now 
known — to go home ; informing him at the same 
time, that they were about to take up arms against 
his country. 

The valley of OJmaquaga, as it was anciently 
spelt, was inhabited by a part of the " Five Nations," 
sometimes unitedly called the Iroquois. They ap- 
pear to have been, from time immemorial, piously 
and virtuously disposed. After an Indian school 
had been instituted at Stockbridge, by the Scotch 
Missionary Society, long before the time of th» 



BINGHAMTON. 145 

French war, the Indians were among the first to 
resort thither for christian instruction. When a 
large number of them went to Stockbridge, in the 
tiii^3 of President Edwards, the sachems of the Mo- 
hawks recommended, in council, to Mr. Edwards to 
use them with peculiar care and tenderness, as ex- 
celling their own tribe in religion and virtue. 

Mr. Edwards— afterward President of Princeton 
College — while a minister at Stockbridge, took a 
deep and lively interest in the Ohnaquagas. He 
|)rocured for them in this early day, a missionary — 
k Mr. Hawle y — accompanied by three other persons, 
Mr. Woodbridge, and Mr. and Mrs. Ashley. Mrs. 
Ashley, it appears, was employed, during her stay, 
as interpreter. The three latter returned ; but Mr. 
Hawley remained their missionary until the com- 
mencement of the French war ; when it was con- 
sidered unsafe for him to remain any longer with 
them. 

About one year previous to this event, Mr. Ed- 
wards sent one of his sons, a lad of about nine years 
old, to Oquago, under the care of Mr. , Hawley, to 
learn the Indian language, in view of his becoming 
an Indian missionary. When the French war 
commenced, a faithful Indian, who had had a special 
care of the lad, took him at intervals uj)07i his hack, 
and conveyed him safely to his father. This lad 
was afterward President of Union College. 

Notwithstanding all the vicissitudes through 
which these Indians passed, so unfavorable to the 
existence and progress of christian piety ; and not- 
withstanding all they had seen in mere nominal 
10 



146 ANNALS OF 

christians, so unfavorable to the same, they appear 
ever after the estabUshment of the christian rehgion 
among them, to retain a predilection for it. 

The valley of Oquago was settled by the whites, 
about the year 1788. The earliest inhabitants were 
John Doolittle, who appears to have been the very 
first white man in the settlement, located himself 
about four miles above the present bridge, on the 
west side of the river, near where his widow and 
son now live. David Hotchkiss, who appears to 
have been next, with his two sons, Amraphael and 
Cyrus, at that time young men, settled a little below 
the bridge, on the west or south west side of the 
river, on the very place where another son of his, 
Frederick Hotchkiss, Esq. now lives. Mr. Hotch- 
kiss and his family moved from Waterbury, near 
New Haven, Conn. He came in the next year af- 
ter John Doolittle, 1789. He took up a large tract 
of land, on both sides of the river, upon which there 
had been some improvements, purchasing only the 
possession of a Mr. Swift. This was a little before 
the land was patented, or, at least, before the paten- 
tees were known to the settlers. John Garnsey took 
up a patent of 1000 acres next below Mr. Hotchkiss, 
toward the Pennsylvania line. He left this to his 
sons, of whom there were many. They all, how- 
ever, left. The Ellis' patent came next on the river, 
north, and embraced the land of David Hotchkiss. 
It consisted of seventeen lots of two hundred acres 
each ; of which Mr. D. Hotchkiss took ten. Next, 
on the north, was Hammond's patent, embracing 
about four or five thousand acres. Secretary Har- 



BINGHAMTON. 147 

pur came next in his patent, extending to Jericho, a 
distance of eight or nine miles. 

To the honor of Secretary Harpur, it may here 
be related, that, for one or two years, he paid the 
taxes for all those who had taken up land upon his 
patent, saying to the collector, as he came round, 
" the people upon my tract are poor, but industrious ; 
I will therefore help them." 

The same year in which David Hotchkiss came, 
there came several other families ; and the year fol- 
lowing, several more ; and, indeed, every following 
year added to their number. The location of these 
early settlers were nearly as follows : On the east 
side of the river, as the traveller came down from 
Jericho, the first inhabitant to be met with was 
Lemuel Badger ; the next his brother Edmund ; 
next, John and Jacob Springsteen ; next was Capt. 
James Knox. He would next meet with the habi- 
tation of William Moore and Isaac Churcher, near 
the old Fort ; next was John Stuart, a revolutionary 
man, who died in consequence of over-eating, in the 
time of the great scarcity ; next, Edward Russell ; 
and Asa Judd, next to Mr. Russell. Below the 
present bridge was Nathan Lane, Esq. ; and next 
to him was Azariah Hatch. Crossing the river, 
and returning upon its western side, our traveller 
would first meet with Ebenezer Garnsey, Maj. John 
Garnsey, a Dr. Garnsey, and a Mr. Potter ; all liv- 
ing on the Garnsey patent. Next to these was Judge 
George Harper, who lived about one half mile below 
the bridge. It was the son of Judge Harper, that 
was shot, as he was passing through the beech 



148 ANNALS OF 

woods, by Treadwell; an event still fresh in the 
memory of many. Mr. David Hotchkiss' location 
was next. Mr. H. was noted for his generosity to 
the poor ; refusing often, in time of scarcity, to sell 
grain to those who had money ; but letting it go to 
those who had none. He was the first magistrate 
appointed in the place. Next to him was Maj. Jo- 
siah Stow, about one mile and a half above the 
bridge; next above Maj. Stow's was Jonathan An- 
drus ; and last upon the west side, in the settlement, 
was John and Abel Doolittle. 

The most of these early inhabitants of Oquago 
came from Waterbury, in New Haven county, Conn,, 
and Watertown, in Litchfield county. Conn. 

Mr. Josiah Stow, who generally went by the 
name of Major Stow, as he had borne that office in 
the French war, and was well entitled to its honor, 
came from Danbury, in Conn. So did also the rest 
of the Stow family. 

On Maj. Stow's location were a great number of 
the ancient apple trees, of which we have just spo- 
ken. They were of a great size ; some of which 
are standing to this day. The opinion of the first 
settlers with regard to the age of these trees, was, 
that they must be nearly or quite a hundred years 
old, at the time of the settlement. The fruit was 
of an excellent quality, and of various kinds. Some 
of the apples were large enough to weigh a pound ; 
and were fair and round. They stood without or- 
der — as is generally the case in Indian orchards — 
and their bodies ran up, with but few or no limbs ; 
very high ; showing, evidently, they had grown up 



BINGHAMTON. 149 

in a forest. As a great number of human bones 
were, in after years, plowed up from under these 
trees, the supposition is natural, that here was their 
burying ground. They evidently paid great re- 
spect to their apple trees, partly, it may be, because 
they shaded the graves of their fathers. 

An anecdote is told of Maj. Stow, which may be 
thought, by some, to favor this opinion of the ground 
of their reverence. It at least illustrates the cour- 
age and firmness of the man : 

In the early part of the Major's residence here, 
he, one day towards evening, observed an Indian, 
with his hatchet, girdling one of these ancient apple 
trees upon his premises ; upon which he went im- 
mediately to him, and demanded, in a stern voice, 
what he was doing, and the reason of his conduct. 
The Indian made some reply, in his own tongue, ol 
which Mr. Stow could only understand the word 
" Sullivan, Sullivan," and which the Indian repeat- 
ed several times. The Major commanded him to 
desist ; but the latter continued hacking the tree. 
He then told the Indian he should blow him through, 
if he did not. He had his rifle in his hand ; so also 
had the Indian, his lying near him upon the ground. 
The Indian cast his eye, several times, first at his 
rifle, and then at Maj. ^tow ; but observing him 
prepared to fire, and his brow knit with resolution, 
he desisted ; thinking it not worth while to risk his 
life for the sake of killing the tree, nor wise to en- 
gage at such fearful odds. He went down to his, 
canoe at the bank, and sullenly made off*, down the 
river. The Major, however, was cautious enough 



150 ANNALS OF 

to follow the Indian at an invisible distance behind, 
for a mile or more, lest the Indian should turn back 
aud fire upon him. He many times remarked af- 
terwards, that this was the only Indian he was ever 
afraid of. 

The probability is, the savage had come there 
with the design — and who can wonder at it — of gird- 
ling those venerable trees, now in the possession of 
strangers and enemies, the fruit of which his own 
tribe for a half century or more had eaten, 

Samuel Stow, the elder, and father of the present 
Deacon Stow, came in at a later period, in 1793. 

In about the year 1794, there was what was call- 
ed the pumpkin freshet, in the month of August ; the 
Susquehannah rising much above its usual height, 
and sweeping down in its tide the productions of the 
fields ; corn, pumpkins, potatoes, &c. A great 
scarcity was the natural consequence. During this 
scarcity, Maj. Stow shouldered a bushel of wheat, in 
which the whole neighborhood had a common share, 
and started for Wattles' ferry to mill, a distance of 
more than forty miles, carrying his grist the whole 
distance on foot. He got his wheat ground, and re- 
turned in the same trudging manner. During his 
journey he purchased one quarter of a pound of tea 
— at that time a rare article with the settlers — to 
help out the repast, which he anticipated at his re- 
turn. Upon his arrival home, the neighbors, who 
held an interest in the grist of wheat — and most 
probably others also— collected at the Major's house, 
to hold a sort of thanksgiving ; which was to be cel- 
ebrated by preparing and partaking of as sumptu- 



BINGHAMTON. 151 

ous a feast, as their stores would admit. Out of 
the flour they made short-cake ; but having no hog's 
lard, they would have come short of this luxury, had 
not the Major bethought himself of some learns 
grease, which he had in the house, and which an- 
swered as a substitute. Their tea was quite a new 
article to them, for which they were not prepared. 
They had no teakettle, no teapot, no teacups. In- 
stead of the first, a small kettle was furnished to 
boil the water in ; they put the tea into the same to 
steep it ; and instead of cups and saucers, they used 
a wooden bowl, which they passed around from one 
to the other. Still they made a merry cheer of it ; 
felt the glow of sociability, and told each his best 
anecdote. These early inhabitants, when they be- 
came old, would tell the story to their children and 
more recent inhabitants, with moistened eyes ; but 
said, it was then a heart-felt thanksgiving and a 
merry time. 

The inhabitants of Oquago since, have at times, 
been reduced to such straits for the want of bread, 
that the temporary relief given by a loaf or a cake, 
has been followed by tears of gladness. 

Wattles' ferry — or rather beyond, some number 
of miles, at Bennet's mills — was the place to which 
the inhabitants were obliged to resort for milling their 
grain, until a gristmill was built, some eight or ten 
miles beyond Deposit, at a place then called the city. 
Although this was a great distance — it would be 
supposed at this day — to go to mill, still it was but 
little more than half the distance to the former place. 

In about the year '97, being eight or nine years 



152 ANNALS OF 

after the settlement of the place, the inhabitants 
found themselves able to erect mills among them- 
selves. Mr. Lane built the first gristmill. He 
built a sawmill about the same time. Mr. Doolittle 
built a sawmill but a short time after. According 
to the recollection of some, Mr. Doolittle built his 
sawmill previous to Mr. Lane's building his. Am- 
raphael Hotchkiss built the first mills upon the Sus- 
quehannah. Secretary Harpur, while he resided in 
New- York, sent a woman, in 1792, to superintend 
the building of a gristmill and sawmill upon his pa- 
tent, by the name of Peggy Ludlow. She proved, 
though a woman, an efficient agent, in conducting that 
part of his business. David Hotchkiss built the 
first framed barn, which is yet standing. They 
now began to have the conveniences of life more 
within their own neighborhood. As the produc- 
tions of their land began to increase to a surplus, a 
market was opened for them at Deposit, on the 
Delaware, and the surrounding neighborhood ; as 
the inhabitants of this latter section were turning 
their attention, as they settled, to lumbering, instead 
of clearing and cultivating the ground. The in- 
habitants of Oquago have, from the beginning, been 
cultivators of the soil. The legitimate consequen- 
ces of this divinely appointed employment, are said 
to be happily exemplified in the superior happiness 
and morality, if not the prosperity, of the place. 

The first christian society formed in Oquago, 
was Presbyterian ; and this was early formed. It 
was the nursery of many eminently pious persons 
of both sexes. 



BINGHAMTON. 153 

No tribe of Indians was found living in the vici- 
nity when first settled. There were a few scat- 
tering ones, individuals and families, residing in the 
parts, who remained for some number of years. 
The Indians who professed to reside at the Castle 
farm, had their range, it appears, from the Forks to 
the Point, on the Chenango river ; and from Wind- 
sor and the Great Bend, down to Union on the Sus- 
quehannah ; and the same Indians were familiarly 
known in all these places. 

Other settlers, though not so early as those who 
have been mentioned, should be recorded. Jasper 
Edwards settled next above Mr. Stuart, on the same 
side of the river. He was taken by the Indians at 
Minnisink and carried to Canada ; but afterward 
made his escape. His descendants are still in the 
place. Elmore Russell, the father of the present 
Elmore Russell, was an early settler. He served 
throughout the revolutionary war ; but in the latter 
part of it, he ran away and enlisted on board a man- 
of-war, under Commodore Truxton ; was taken a 
prisoner off the coast of the Bermudas, and lay in 
irons seventeen days. He survived all this, how- 
ever, and lived to be surrounded with a family. His 
daughter, when a little girl, found a large ring, which 
was supposed to have been once the ornament of 
some chief's daughter. As it was too large for her 
finger, she wore it upon ]\qy great-toe. When upon 
a visit to Connecticut, she ascertained that it was of 
pure gold. 

Henry Richards is mentioned as one of the 
earliest settlers. He located himself where his son 



154 ANNALS OF 

now lives, Mr. Richards bought the lot that the 
Indians gave to Amos Draper. He came from Wy- 
oming about the same time that Capt. Leonard did. 
Five years elapsed from the time of his first coming 
into the place before he dare bring his family ; so 
apprehensive had he learned to be, of the danger of 
a family in the neighborhood of Indians. 

Nathaniel Cole, the father of the present Natha- 
niel Cole, the Innkeeper of Colesville, was the first 
settler of that place, a small vicinity about four 
miles north of Windsor. Judge Harpur was also a 
very early settler there. Samuel Badger, was also 
among the first ; the father of Luther Badger, Esq., 
a former member of Congress. Secretary Harpur 
was also an early settler, though not among the 
first. Putnam Catlin, now residing at the Great 
Bend, was an early settler at Oquago. 

Philip Weeks, who lives four miles below the 
bridge, on the river road, was, when four years old, 
brought by his grandfather and mother from Wyo- 
ming, immediately after the great massacre. He 
remembers the catastrophe distinctly. His grand- 
father, then an old man, the day after the battle, was 
seated in a chair without the door of his son's house. 
A fierce looking Indian came up and told the old 
man he must leave, or his house would be burnt 
down, in fifteen minutes, over his head. The Indi- 
an, with some others, was driving away about forty 
head of cattle, and had just ordered one to go 
and bring a yoke of cattle, belonging to his son. 
The old man told him he could not move, with- 
out a yoke of oxen to move away with. The 



BINGHAMTON. 155 

Indian bid the old man to go in and bring out a table 
and a bottle of whiskey ; which old Mr. Weeks did. 
The Indian refused the old gentleman his own oxen, 
but allowed him an inferior pair out of the drove. 
The old man immediately set about loading up the 
cart with the few goods they were allowed to take 
away. Upon the top of these he set his daughter- 
in-law, who, the day before, had been made a widow, 
and with her, eleven grand-children, and drove the 
cart himself. With these relics of a numerous fa- 
mily and a comfortable fortune, he made his way, 
slowly and painfully, into Orange county. Philip 
Weeks was one of these children. He remembers 
that Wiiksbarre was burning as they passed. He 
remembers also all the little incidents on the way. 
He remembers seeing his mother crying in the 
morning of the day they started, after the news of 
his father's death had reached her. His father had 
likewise two brothers killed, and his mother one. 
His mother afterward married a Mr. Bennet, bro- 
ther to the Mr. Bennet that was taken captive with 
Esq. Hammond, at Mashoppin. 

Mr. Roswell Higley, who should have been men- 
tioned before, was quite an early settler in Oquago. 
He came from Ballstown, and located himself about 
half a mile above the old fort. Two or three years 
after his settlement, there came to Mr. Higley's a 
chief, with some other Indians, desiring the privilege 
of lodging and eating in his house, while they should 
be engaged in digging for some brass kettles, which 
they said had been buried in the neighborhood. 
They went daily to the task of their search, and 



156 ANNALS OF 

found a number. And when they left, they said 
there were otliers, which they had not found. Oth- 
ers were found afteward in the neighborhood of their 
digging. Isaac G. Higley, the son, says the chief 
always asked a blessing before their meals, while 
they remained in his father's house. 

The bridge at Windsor was built in 1825. 

The Presbyterian meeting house, of this place, 
was erected in 1800. The Methodist house of wor- 
ship, in 1833. 

An Episcopal church was organized in Windsor 
as early as the year 1803, by the present Bishop 
Chase, of New Jersey, then missionary in the western 
part of New- York. This was the earliest Episco- 
pal church formed in this entire section of country ; 
and was the remote origin of the present Episcopal 
church in Harpursville. The church was organi- 
zed in Mr. Abel Doolittle's house, where he now 
lives. The first members were Mr. Abel Doolittle 
and his wife, with four children baptized ; Daniel 
Merwin, Mr. Knapp, and Mr. Isaac Ruggles. 

The first minister of the gospel that preached in 
Windsor, was the Rev. Mr. Buck, sometimes, by 
the early inhabitants, called Maj. Buck ; as he had 
held that office in the revolutionary war. Mr. Wil- 
liston, a missionary from Connecticut, appears to 
have been the next. He is, according to the best 
recollection, supposed to have formed the Presby- 
terian church there. Soon after the formation of the 
church, the Rev. Seth Sage became the settled min- 
ister, and remained the pastor for many years ; even 
to the time of his death. 



BINGHAMTON. 157 



CHAPTER XII. 

The region of country on the Chenango, near 
and about what is called " The Forks," and also 
upon its Onondaga branch, was settled about the 
time, or very soon after, the settlement made by 
Capt. Leonard, Col. Rose, and the two Mr. Whit- 
neys. Thomas Gallop was the first white man in 
this part of the settlement. He located himself just 
at the lower Forks. He was found living a sort of 
hermit life, by Mr. John Barker, the next white 
man in the settlement, living at this time in the 
"treaty house." Mr. Barker purchased of Mr. 
Gallop his improvements, and took up his residence, 
with his family, in the treaty house. Gallop soon 
after, it is believed, left the region. This treaty 
house, as it was called, had been erected for the ac- 
commodation of the treaty, held at this place with the 
Indians, by the commissioners of the Boston com- 
pany. The house stood near where the present 
toll-house of the bridge stands ; rather north west 
of it, in the orchard. It was a large double log 
house. 

The lower Forks are formed by the Chenango 
and the Tioughnioga — a name given the waters of 
the Onondaga, from the mouth of the OtseHc to their 
union with the Chenango. The ui^per Forks, which 
are ten or twelve miles above, are formed by the 
Onondaga and the Otselic. 

A Mr. Lampeer was the first man that ventured 



158 ANNALS OF 

a distance up the Tioughnioga. He settled seven 
miles up that stream. Gen. John Patterson, one 
of the proprietors of the Boston company, settled 
very early, probably next to Lampeer, at the upper 
Forks ; now called Whitney's Point, and precisely 
where Thomas Whitney now lives. Gen. Patter- 
son had been Brigadier General in the revolution- 
ary war. He was a man of liberal education, and 
of refined accomplishments. He never became 
wealthy in this new country, but was highly revered 
in the vicinity, as one well qualified to lead in their 
public matters. 

Simeon Rogers, who married, after coming into 
the parts, the daughter of John Barker, settled where 
he now lives, on the north east side of the Tiough- 
nioga, scant one mile from its mouth. 

Besides tliese, those that deserve to be mentioned 
as early settlers, were — commencing from Mr. Ro- 
gers', and following the Tioughnioga up— John Allen ; 
then Asa Beach ; then Solomon Rose, the brother 
of Col. William Rose, on the north side ; then Gen. 
Patterson, already mentioned ; next to him was 
David Cornwell ; Ebenezer Tracy, on the Ononda- 
ga ; Moses Adams ; James Richards, on the north 
side ; Mr. Wheaton, on the north side also ; Tho- 
mas and Ebenezer Green, on the east side of the 
Otselic ; Jonathan Cowdry and Robert Parce on 
the opposite side of the last stream mentioned. Near- 
ly all of these persons migrated from Stockbridge, 
and other parts of Berkshire county. Mass, 

John and David Seymour, came in also early, and 
settled on the south west side ot the Tioughnioga, a 



BINGHAMTON. 159 

litlle below General Patterson's ; Dr. Wheeler was 
early in, and the earliest physician in this part of the 
little settlement ; Esq. Patterson settled near his 
father, Gen. Patterson ; and Gen. Samuel Coe was 
the farthest inhabitant up the Onondaga, on the 
north east side ; upon the Otselic there settled also, 
in early day, a nephew of John Barker ; three 
Messrs. Smith, Jacob, Benjamin and William ; a Mr. 
Shepherd, also, who became afterward a Baptist 
preacher. 

Upon the south east side of the Tioughnioga and 
the Onondaga, the land belonged to the Boston pur- 
chase. But upon the opposite side, and as far east 
as the Chenango river, it constituted the patent of 
Mr. Hornby, in England. This patent embraced 
90,000 acres. Col. William Smith, who married 
the daughter of the elder John Adams, and was also 
Secretary to that gentleman while in England as 
Minister, became the agent for Mr. Hornby, both in 
purchasing the tract and in disposing of it. His 
brother Justus, however, after a few years, became 
the principal acting agent. From this patent the 
early settlers, who located upon the tract, took the 
title of their land. 

Upon the Chenango, above the mouth of i\w 
Tioughnioga, there was no settlement for a number 
of years, after the period of which we have been 
speaking ; and why it should have been so long un- 
occupied and unimproved is not known. 

When this particular section first became settled, 
there were a number of Indians here, and a number 
of wigwams. They appear, however, all of them, 



160 ANNALS OF 

to have belonged to the general tribe, or community, 
found upon the two vallies ; having their particular 
home and head quarters at the Castle farm. Mrs. 
Rogers, who has been spoken of as the daughter of 
John Barker, and who came in with her father's fa- 
mily when about fourteen years of age, was, while 
young and at home with her father, a very great fa- 
vorite with them. The squaws would often solicit 
her company to go with them after whortleberries 
and other fruit. By being thus often with them, she 
acquired a knowledge of their peculiarities, and a 
familiarity with their savage and forbidding appear- 
ance, which, in a great measure, removed from her 
all fears of them, and prepared her for encounters 
which she afterward had with them. 

Mr. Simeon Rogers, her husband, in a very early 
day, as soon as the roads were opened sufficiently to 
be travelled, kept a public house, and particularly 
liquor to sell. This exposed her, especially when 
alone, to danger from the Indians. One day, as she 
was alone in her house with an infant babe that was 
sitting upon the floor, nine Indians came suddenly 
in. She knew them. One of them, by the name of 
David, and whom she discovered to be much intoxi- 
cated, asked her for a gill of rum. She promptly 
refused him. He instantly sprung towards her with 
his knife drawn. She, at the same instant, without 
being conscious of what she did, threw her arms 
around another of the Indians, who stood nearest her, 
and who happened to be young Antonio, the son of the 
old chief. He immediately took her part, and fell 
upon David ; threshed and kicked him severely ; 



BINGHAMTONr 161 

then took him out of doors and dragged him to a 
distance and bid him to lie there. The other Indi- 
ans all left the house soon, and drunken David they 
left behind, under an interdict of not moving from 
his place, for a specified time. They had not been 
long gone before Mrs. Rogers saw, to her still great- 
er terror, David making his way back to the house, 
with his face painted, one side hlack and the other 
side red, and his tomahawk and knife drawn. This 
she knew to denote murder ; and what to do she 
knew not. Courage, she thought, would most likely 
defend her ; she therefore remained in the house 
till he came up ; or rather — according to present 
impression — she stepped without the door, to give 
herself a chance to run, if necessary, leaving her 
babe within, as she had not time to take it up. He 
asked where Antonio was. She said he was upon 
the other side of the house ; and pretended to run 
and call him. But really ran down towards the 
river where her husband and his brother were at 
work, some quarter or half mile from the house. 
Her calls were heard ; and her husband not appre- 
hending at all what was the matter, sent his brother. 
She informed him ; and thev both moved towards 
the house. When they arrived, they found the sa- 
vage David in the house waiting for the liquor, which 
he was determined to have. He had not molested 
the child. Mrs. Rogers' brother-in-law bid him, in 
a manner which carried force with it, to be gone. 
He cleared, without a reply. He was a fierce and 
troublesome Indian, even among his own kindred ; 

and was supposed to be shot afterward by one whose 
11 



,«« 



162 ANNALS OF 

life he had threatened. He had shot one Indian not 
long before he threatened Mrs. Rogers. 

Another Indian encounter she had : One morn- 
ing it was, an Indian whom she had never seen be- 
fore, came in and asked for a drink of rum. Appre- 
hending some difficulty if she should refuse him, she 
let him have one gill. Mr. Charles Stone had been 
travelling some distance from home, and on his re- 
turn was taking breakfast at the time. The Indian, 
after receiving his dram, went away ; but soon re- 
turned for more. She gave him another gill, as 
she was alone now, and afraid to deny him. He 
went away the second time, but soon returned for a 
quart ; she filled his bottle. Sometime early in the 
afternoon he was back for more — to have his bottle 
fiUed the second time. She now mustered courage 
to refuse him, supposing him to be so drunk as not 
to be particularly feared. He instantly — for he did 
not prove so drunk as she supposed — drew his knife, 
and threatened her life. As she had begun, she 
was determined to carry her refusal through. She 
was within the bar, the door of which was very nar- 
row, and the Indian standing immediately in it. Just 
in the height of her danger, a neighbor, whom she 
well knew, passed upon horseback ; or rather rode 
up to the door, as it was his intention to stop. He 
instantly asked, " what is the matter ?" she replied, 
her life was threatened by that Indian. The Indian 
fled as the man dismounted. He was not pursued, 
as the danger, by the man especially, was appre- 
hended to be over. After having fed his horse, this 
neighbor was placing the bridle upon his horse, 



BLNGHAMTON* 163 

when Mrs. Rogers, who was looking out for the 
probable return of the Indian, saw him rushing to- 
wards the man, who did not observe him. By a 
timely scream, she roused the man to his danger. 
He made his escape the second time, and was no 
more seen. Mrs. Rogers thinks the Indian intend, 
ed to strike down the man, and then turn and de- 
spatch her. She remarks, that these encounters 
were so terrifying, and left such an impression, that 
she never after recovered her former spirit and 
courage towards them. 

Mrs. Rogers remarks, that when the country was 
yet new, and the inhabitants remote from each oth- 
er, that pains would be taken, in their neighborhood 
visiting, to have a day appropriated ; and all, ex- 
cept those who could not leave home, to meet at the 
same place ; and those who were from the remotest 
parts to stay over night and spend more or less of 
tlie next day. These parties, she states, were en- 
joyed with far more than modern zest and social 
fellowship. That feelings of interest and happiness 
mantled their bosoms, which now, in her estimation, 
^ave scarcely a parallel. 

Judge James Stoddard, a brother of Gen. Oringh 
Stoddard, settled very early in this neighborhood ; 
and, it is believed, on the west side of the Tiough- 
nioga ; a Mr. Clark, also, near him ; a Mr. Dudley 
settled on the same side of that river, and north of a 
small stream that empties into the Tioughnioga, and 
some distance north of Whitney's Point. 

This point or juncture, is formed by the Ononda- 
ga and the Otsehc, and is called after Mr. Thomas 






% 



164 ANNALS OF 

Whitney, who owns the bridge at this place, the 
mills also, and a large landed property in the neigh- 
borhood. He settled here in the year 1802. Upon 
!§ the former stream Mr. Edward Edwards and Major 
David Manning settled in the year 1795. 

Mr. Edwards is still living ; and indeed not aged, 
if appearances are a criterion. He is grandson of 
the distinguished President Edwards, one of the 
early presidents of Princeton College ; and so well 
known as a theological writer, and for his pre- 
eminently pious life. He was first cousin to Col. 
Aaron Burr, and was brought up in the same family 
with him. Col. Burr's father, who was either the 
first or second president also of Princeton College, 
married the daughter of President Edwards, who 
was the mother of Col. Burr, and the aunt of Mr. 
E. Edwards. Col. Burr was deprived of both his 
parents, who died of the small pox, while he himself 
was quite young. He and his sister were taken 
into the family of Mr. Edwards' father, who then 
lived in Elizabethtown, N. J. In this family Col. 
Burr remained, when not at school or college, until 
he was grown. Mr. Edwards remarks, that he re- 
members to have seen his father, on one occasion in 
particular, chastise his cousin for some of his mis- 
chievous tricks. How much the loss of Col. Burr's 
father and mother, while he was so young, may 
have contributed towards his blasted fortune and 
reputation, is not easy to determine, 
|M| Mr. Edwards was also an early member of the 

state Legislature. His membership was in the 
time of Gov. Jay's administration. Pie relates an 



BINGHAMTON. 165 

%^ anecdote of Alexander Hamilton, who was also, at 
this time, a member of the Legislature. Gov. Jay- 
had given a public dinner to the members. After 
the cloth was removed, and they were taking their , 
wine, the Governor asked Mr. Hamilton to give a 
toast. At this period the choice of President was 
pending between Jefferson and Burr ; and it had al- 
ready devolved upon the house of Congress to de- 
cide the great question. Mr. Hamilton filled his 
glass and said, " May our government not fall a 
victim to the visionary dreams of a Condorsett" — a 
leader in the French revolution — " nor to the crimes 
of a Cataline." Evidently meaning, by the latter, 
Aaron Burr. John Swartwout, another member, 
who sat near Mr. Edwards, said, with an oath, but 
in something of an under tone, "Hamilton shall 
bleed for that." He was a particular friend of 
Aaron Burr. Mr. Edwards, who was partial to 
Mr. Hamilton, could not but blame him for what he 
had implied in his toast. 

A Congregational church was organized in what 
is called Lisle, in the year 1797, by the Rev. Seth 
Williston, who had, a short time previously, been 
sent there by the Connecticut Missionary Society, 
upon the personal application of Mr. Edwards. The 
church consisted, in its first formation, of sixteen 
members, eleven of whom were by profession. In 
1801, William Osborn was elected to the office of a 
deacon; but it was not till 1810, that he was con- 
secrated by the imposition of hands from the Pres- 
bytery ; and his colleague, Andrew Squires, was 
consecrated at the same time. 



.;* 



166 ANNALS OF 



Mr. Williston employed about half of his time in 
pastoral duties in this congregation ; the rest of his 
time he missionated in Union, Owego, and in 
^ Oquago. He was installed pastor of the church in 
Lisle, in October, 1803 ; and from this period he 
appears to have employed all his time within tlie 
pastoral limits of this one congregation, until he 
was dismissed from it, in 1810. 

The church of Lisle was the earliest organized, it 
is believed, of any west of the Catskill and south of 
Utica. At the time of Mr. Williston's installation, 
the council organized what was then called " The 
Susquehannah Association," taking in some of the 
northern counties of Pennsylvania. 

In the year 1796, Mr. E. Edwards built the first 
saw-mill on the Onondaga or its waters ; and was 
nearly, if not quite, the first that came down the 
Chenango with a raft. He subsequently carried on 
lumbering to a great extent ; and the pine timber of 
that section being of a superior quality, compensa- 
ted for his being so far back from the broader stream 
of the Susquehannah. 

The first grist-mill was built much later, by Dr. 
Wheeler. Previous to this, the inhabitants came 
down to Castle creek for their grinding ; and when 
that mill failed for want of water, they were obliged 
to go to Tioga Point. 



BINGHAMTON. 167 



CHAPTER XIII. 

The first person who settled the vicinity of the 
present village of Greene, as near as can now be de- 
termined, was Conrad Sharp, a Dutchman. He set- 
tled about two miles above the village. His loca- 
tion determined a number of other Dutchmen to 
come in, which formed quite a Dutch neighborhood. 
The settlement of Mr. Sharp took place about 1794. 

Others, entitled to the. name of early settlers, were, 
principally, Stephen Ketchum, David Bradley, De- 
rick Race, Joseph Tillotson, who came in alone and 
naked-handed, save but an axe upon his shoulder. 
He has, it is said, cut for himself, however, since that 
day, a large estate ; Mr. Gray, a Baptist elder ; 
Elisha Smith was also an early settler, and also an 
agent, for a number of years, in behalf of the Horn- 
by patent. He surveyed the town of Greene, and 
laid out the village. 

The first white inhabitants upon the site of this 
village, were the French emigrants, who fled from 
their own country, to escape the terrors of the revo- 
lution. The number of families that composed this 
little band of emigrants, was somewhere between 
seven and ten. Under what circumstances they 
lefl their own country is mot particularly known ; 
nor is it known by what means they became ac- 
quainted with the part of the Chenango valley upon 
which they located ; nor, indeed, is it known the pre- 
cise time when they first pitched their tents here. 



168 ANNALS OF 

The earliest one upon the ground appears to have 
been Simon Barnet, who, by the by, was not from 
France, but from the West Indies. He was a Cre- 
ole. He was immediately from Philadelphia, and 
was, very likely, sent by the French company, as 
pioneer for them. 

None of these emigrants were titled gentlemen in 
their own country ; but respectable, on the score of 
property and intelligence. They did not, however, 
bring a great deal of wealth with them, but on the 
contrary, were comparatively poor. One of their 
number, M. Dutremont, was a man of considerable 
wealth, and of very considerable talents and learn- 
ing. He is spoken of as possessing shining abili- 
ties. It was he that contracted for the land upon 
which they settled. They chose the east side of the 
Chenango, directly opposite the principal part of 
the village of Greene, which is on the west side. 
The site is a beautiful elevation, standing above an 
easy acclivity from the river, with a romantic scene- 
ry — as the country cleared — around. The purchase 
was made of William W. Morris and Malachi Treat, 
the patentees of the land. The patent embraced a 
tract of 30,000, acres, lying upon the east side of 
the Chenango river. 

The name of another of these exiled emigrants 
was Charles Felix Barlogne. Capt. Juliand, the 
father of the two Mr. Juliands, present merchants 
in Greene, was another. He came into the settle- 
ment a little after the first company, in the year 
1797. He had spent a maritime hfe previously, as 
sea captain. Log houses were built for all the fa- 



m^ 



BINGHAMTON. 169 

milies ; and provision often carried there from the 
neighborhood of Chenango Point. There undoubt- 
edly was a vast difference in the circumstances of 
these families here from what they had been in their 
own country. But it is remarked of Frenchmen, as 
a national characteristic, that they can more easily 
and more cheerfully lend down to a reverse of for- 
tune, than almost any other people. 

In the year 1794 or '5, the much celebrated 
Talleyrand, during his stay in the United States, vi- 
sited his exiled brethren at this place. On his way 
at this time, he passed one night at Capt. Sawtell's, 
whose house the hospitable master made free for the 
lodging and entertainment of travellers, before there 
was any regular public house opened in the place. 
Mr. Benjamin Sawtell, who was then a lad, remem- 
bers distinctly his staying at his father's. He says 
M. Talleyrand was accompanied by another French 
gentleman ; that the guests and his father talked dur- 
ing the evening, on the subject of the Catholic reli- 
gion. He had taken a sylvan jaunt, on horseback, 
in company with another French gentleman, from 
Philadelphia to Albany, and made this visit on his 
way. It is believed that he tarried a number of 
days, if not weeks, at this place. And when he 
left, having become acquainted with the son of M. 
Dutremont, and discerned talents in him which par- 
ticularly interested this great statesman, he obtain- 
ed the consent of the parents, and took him with 
him. Young Dutremont accompanied Talleyrand 
to France, and became his private Secretary. 

Talleyrand was of noble birth ; of an ancient, but 



170 ANNALS OF 

not wealthy, family. He was club-footed ; on whicli 
account his father devoted him in early life to the 
church, and educated him for the same. He became 
bishop of Autun, though he had a great aversion to 
the sacred office. In the early part of his life, dur- 
ing his youthful and ardent days, he was eminently 
dissolute in his habits. He rendered himself con- 
spicuous at court by his insinuating manners ; took 
an active part in the French revolution ; fell under 
the censure of the Jacobins, while in England on a 
mission ; and being looked upon as a spy by the 
discerning Mr. Pitt, he was obliged to seek refuge 
in the United States. 

The settlement of these French emigrants most 
probably would have been permanent, had not the 
leading member of their little band, M. Dutremont, 
been cut off from them, by an untimely death. In 
the act of fording a river on horseback, on his way 
to Philadelphia, he was drowned. This event de- 
ranged their financial affairs. He had not paid for 
tJie land they then had in possession, and upon which 
they resided. In consequence of engagements not 
being met, it reverted back into the hands of the pa- 
tentees. The emigrants became discouraged ; and 
afler a few years, at most, left their present loca- 
tion and the improvements they had made, and 
moved down below Towanda, at a place called 
Frenchtown — now Asylum — where there was also 
another French settlement, and became themselves 
a constituent part of it. How many of these origi- 
nal families returned to France, is not known, 

Capt. Juliand did not leaye with the rest of Ms 



BINGHAMTON. 171 

French brethren, but remained in Greene. He 
was an efficient man in all that he undertook. His 
seafaring life qualified him to brave, without dis- 
couragement, the hardships of a new settlement. 
To Captain Juliand and to Judge Elisha Smith is 
given the credit of laying the foundation of the 
village of Greene, and of its subsequent pros- 
perity. 

The village of Greene was laid out into a village 
form in the year 1806. At first, it took the name 
of Hornby^ after the patentee, within whose landed 
territory the village was located ; but after a few 
years it took its present name, in honor of the dis- 
tinguished Gen. Greene, of revolutionary fame. Its 
surveyed limits were at first confined to the west 
side of the Chenango, but now extends on both 
sides. The country which surrounds the village is 
rather beautiful than picturesque or romantic ; and 
the country and village taken together, strike the 
eye of the traveller in a manner that is sure to 
effect, if not charm, his imagination. The whole 
scene is more than ordinarily beautiful ; and this 
must always remain the case, while there is village 
and country to look upon. The two also appear 
like giving growth, and beauty, and wealth, to each 
other. 

Greene is fourteen miles south of Oxford, and 
nineteen miles north of Binghamton. The village is, 
in itself, one mile east and west, and about the same 
distance from north to south. It has within it throe 
ohurches, eleven stores, two taverns, and one large 
district school. The water of the Chenango is em- 



172 ANNALS OF 

ployed at the place in propelling one large grist- 
mill of Jive run of stones, and of uncommon reputa- 
tion for the flour it manufactures ; one saw-mill, and 
one clothing factory. The stage route from Cats- 
kill to Ithaca passes through this place, upon which 
there is a daily line ; and also the stage road from 
Utica to Binghamton passes through it. 

There were no Indians in this particular section, 
when first settled by the whites. But we have to 
record a most remarkable mound, the relic of Indian 
superstition and industry. There are now to be 
seen only some imperfect traces of it. It was sit- 
uated about two miles south of the village, and 
about thirty rods from the river bank ; on what is 
now the farm of Mr. Lott. The mound, before it 
was dug down or plowed over, was about six or 
seven feet above the surface of the ground, and forty 
feet in diameter ; being nearly circular. There 
was also, till within a few years, a large pine stump 
in the centre of it, the remains of a large pine tree 
which was standing when the whites came in. It 
was then, however, a dead tree. When it was cut 
down there were counted 180 concentric circles or 
yearly growths. Estimating the age of the mound 
by the concentric circles of the stump, it must have 
been over 200 years old when this section of the 
country was settled. 

An examination of this mound was made in 1829, 
by. digging, and there were found human bones to a 
great number ; and lower from the surface, there 
were found bones that had been evidently burnt ; 
suggesting the idea, that the mode of disposing of 



BINGHAMTON. 173 

the dead, when these bones were deposited, was 
burning the dead body. No conjecture could be 
formed as to the number of bodies buried here. They 
were found lying without order, very much jumbled^ 
and so far decayed as to crumble, or fall apart, when 
brought to the air and handled. The supposition 
would not be an unlikely one, that these bones were 
tlie remains of bodies which had fallen in battle, and 
were afterward hurriedly thrown together and 
buried. 

A large mound in Wyoming, though not so ex- 
tensive in size, nor so regular in form, as the one 
we have just spoken of, was observed by the early 
settlers of that country ; and was always understood 
to be the tumulus raised over the bodies of the Dela- 
wares, who had fallen in the celebrated battle in the 
grasslwpper war. The Indians held the spot so sa- 
cred, that the whites never presumed to disturb it. 
Capt. Leonard, while he was in Wyoming, with a 
few others, ventured to dig a little into the mound, 
and found it apparently full of sculls and other hu- 
man bones. Toin Turkey, an aged Indian, told Capt. 
Leonard that he remembered the battle, and was 
knowing to the interment. 

In the mound near Greene, there were found, 
lying quite in one pile, 200 arrow heads, cut after 
their usual form, and all either of yellow or black 
jiint. It will be recollected that there are no stone 
of this kind, found in this part of the state of New- 
York. In another part of the mound there were 
found, lying together, about sixty, made after tlie 
same form. A silver band or ring was also found. 



«r 



174 ANNALS OF 

of about two inches in diameter, extremely thin, but 
wide, with the remains — in appearance — of a reed 
pipe, lying within it. The supposition is, that it 
was some sort of musical instrument. There was 
also found a number of stone chissels, of different 
shapes, evidently fitted to perform different species 
of work. A large piece of mica also, cut into the 
form of a heart ; the border much decayed, and the 
different laminae separated. 

These curious relics of antiquity are in the pos- 
session of Dr. Willard, of Greene, who was the 
principal person in opening into and searching the 
mound. His cabinet of minerals and curiosities 
show his prevailing taste for antiquities, and the 
sciences allied to them. 



CHAPTER XIV. 

At the time the primitive settlers came, there 
■were no Indians, or vestiges of their's, remaining 
upon the site of the present village of Binghamton. 
There was, indeed, an old log house, or — as the white 
people supposed it might have been — a wigwam, 
standing at the point, near the banks of the two 
rivers, where they mingle their waters. It was 
.used, as the same early settlers say, for a lodging 
place or shelter by the Indians, when they were oc- 
casionally down upon their fishing excursions. 

There was also built upon the site, a log house 
somewhere between Colonel Page's and William 
Wentz's, by Solomon Moore ; but ascertaining soon 



BINGHAMTON. 175 

aflerward that he could not purchase the land, Mr. 
Moore left, and the house soon dilapidated and dis- 
appeared. 

A man by the name of Thomas Chambers lived 
in a small log house, standing near the well that 
stands at the corner, but on the outside, of Colonel 
Lewis' garden. This was built also before the vil- 
lage was laid out. 

The ground of the village did not, in its original 
and wild state, possess that smoothness of surface 
^hich it now presents ; having been, in many pla- 
ces, as the village has been built up, materially lev- 
elled. Still, taken together, it might be called a 
plain. It was covered with white and red, or pitch, 
pine. S wails, as they were called, of swamp white 
oak were growing here and there upon the lower 
places. The white pine was but sparsely scattered 
over the plain, and the interval of ground was cov- 
ered with the pitch pine and shrub oak. 

Inconsequence of the annual burning over of the 
gi'ound, which was practiced by the Indians, and af- 
terwards kept up for a number of years by the whites, 
there was little or no underbrush. And even the 
lower limbs of the oaks and pines were, by the same 
means, kept trimmed, or prevented from growing . 
so that a rabbit could be seen at a distance of more 
than musket shot. The smoothness of the surface, 
however, was frequently interrupted by huge trunks 
of prostrate trees, that were too nearly the nature 
of the ground itself to be materially effected by the 
transient and annual fires, and were slowly return- 
ing to their original dust. After the burnings, there 



176 ANNALS OF 

would grow up every season a kind of spindling 
grass, which exhibited, very faintly^ the hue of ver- 
dure. Wild roses, and the flower of the mandrake, 
were here and there seen contributing their mite 
towards cheering the solitude of the forest ; but 
notwithstanding all these, the plains here exhibited 
but a barren appearance ; and the stone and gravel 
which lay whitening upon the surface, were by far 
the most conspicuous. In process of time, how- 
ever, and without an}^ reference to a future village, 
there were about twenty-five acres cleared near the 
junction of the two rivers ; about eight acres below 
the junction on the northern bank of the Susquehan- 
nah ; about ten acres on the western bank of the 
Chenango river, nearly opposite the Chenango 
bridge ; and eight acres on the east side, where the 
eastern end of that bridge abuts. 

Prior to the year 1799, no village was thought of 
where Binghamton now stands. A village, which 
was supplanted by the present one, was commenced 
and had made some progress, about one mile above 
Binghamton, on the west side of the Chenango river, 
just above the promontory point of what is called 
" Prospect Hill." It had commenced building up 
some five or six years previous to the date we have 
just mentioned ; and at the time it was determined 
to change the location, there were a number of 
buildings ; and a considerable interest concentrated 
there. A tavern was kept by Lewis Keeler. Mr. 
Keeler came from Norwalk, Conn. Isaac Sayres, 
a Colonel, was great-uncle to Mr. Keeler. He was 
a sea captain in the time of the French war ; waa 



BINGHAMTON. ITt 

one, with four others,- that destroyed the type and 
stamp paper that was sent to New Haven. Col.. 
Sayres was own uncle to the elder Selah SquireSi. 
A printing office conducted by Daniel Crugar and a 
paper published by the same« Mr. Crugar was^. 
after this, Speaker in the House of the Legislature ; 
was afterward chosen member of Congress, He 
now lives in Wheehng^ Va., and a member of the 
Legislature of that State, A physician settled there 
by the name of Forbes. Webster and Lee, bro..- 
thers -in-law, established and conducted a distillery,. 
Delano and Monroe, in company, were merchantSe 
Lewis Keeler carried on the hatting business also. 
Judge McKinney commenced a store, and continued 
something more than a year before moving down tC' 
this village. 

Judge Jacob McKinney came into the parts in' 
1800, from Northumberland county, in Penn. He 
cam.e up the Susquehannah with a boat load of whis-- 
key and other articles, for the purpose of going into 
the mercantile business here«. Dr. Bartholomew 
also located himself here for some time. 

This incipient village was called Chenango village.- 

The site chosen for its location, undoubtedlv result- ■ 

ed from the situation of the roads at the time, and 

the location of the main ferry <>. The road from the 

Great Bend, on the village side of the river, came 

down nearly where it- does now? as far as what is^ 

called the Dry Bridge ;- it then inclined to the right 

and led directly towards- the point of the mountain- 

before alluded to.. Here a ferry was kept». After" 

crossing the river,4t incHnedidown towards the Sus- 
12; 



178 ANNALS OF 

quehannah again ; and came into the present Sus- 
quehannah or Owego road, some three or four miles 
below the present village of Binghamton. There 
was a branch of this road that crossed the Chenan- 
go at what was called Lyon's Ferry, kept where 
Col. Lewis' Mills now are. The fact that the early 
settlements were all some distance up the river, was 
the reason of the road's making so great a curve, 
and running where it did. 

The northern line of the Bingham patent ran 
nearly through the centre of this upper village ; and 
when Gen. Whitney became, in the year 1800, the 
agent for Mr. Bingham, for tioo very important rea- 
sons, he conceived the design of moving the village 
down upon the present site : one was, the present 
location has vastly the advantage over the former — 
from being immediately between and upon tlie 
two rivers ; from its being directly upon the line of 
the great western road that was now opened, and 
from its containing a more extended area upon 
which a village of a far greater size might be built. 
The other reason was, that the patent, of which Imj 
had the agency, did not embrace the old ground. 
He therefore took the necessary measures to divert 
the attention of settlers and the public to this place, 
as destined to be the rising village. He placed the 
superior advantages of the newly chosen site before 
- the public ; he bought a number of buildings of the 
old village, and had them brought down here. Under 
the direction of Mr. Bingham, he had the ground 
43arly laid out into streets and lots. The size of the 
lots, .as they were first laid out, were three-quarters 



BINGHAMTON. 179 

of an acre ; and the general price for which they 
sold was twenty dollars. Corner lots were held at 
a higher price. 

Thus the way was paved ; and the site of the vil- 
lage of Binghamton was surveyed and laid out into 
a village form in the year 1800. 

Two streets only were opened at first — Court and 
Water-streets ; and the first building put up within 
ihe plot, was a dwelling house on Water-street, be- 
yond the present buildings on that street, on the de- 
clivity of a hill, a little south east of William Wentz's 
present dwelling ; vestiges of the cellar are still to 
be seen. It was built by John G. Christopher, in 
the autumn of the same year in which the village 
was laid out, and occupied by him for a short time. 
In 1801, Judge McKinney built a store-house on 
Water-street, twenty-eight feet square. Its loca- 
tion was near the spot where Horatio Evans' pre- 
sent dwelling house is. Gen. Whitney formed a 
partnership with Judge McKinney after the comple- 
tion of the house, and together they filled this large 
store building with goods. The expense of trans- 
portation at this time was twenty shillings or three 
dollars per hundred from the Hudson. Judge Mc- 
Kinney also built, opposite his store, a house for the 
storage of grain. This was the second building 
commenced. The third, and in the same season, 
was a building erected by Lewis Keeler, on the cor- 
ner of Court and Water-streets, fronting the latter, 
for a tavern. It is still in existence, and forms the 
southern part of Mr. Jarvis' Hotel. 

In the same year, 1801, or early in the next. Gen. 



WO') 4'NNALS OF- 

Whitney cleared on Court.&treet, and" opposite tlie> 
termination of Water-streetj . and erected the build- 
ing he occupied for a dwelling for some number of 
v.ears,, which is also standing yet; and is the build., 
iflg,. though moved from its first foundation, now oc- 
cupied for different offices, Cooke and Davis' print- 
ing office being one.. 

In this same year, or,. it may have been earlier, 
Bulthasar De Hart, called also Judge De Hart, came 
into the place. He was from the city of New York, 
had been bred to the law, and had been, in some 
manner, connected in its practice with Alexander 
Hiimilton^ He had, by some means, become poor. . 
if he had been ever otherwise ; and probably retired 
hei^5 not so much to mend his fortune, as to escape 
from, the mortification he might have anticipated, in: 
remaining among his former associates. He was 
originally from New Jersey, where he obtained the 
title of Judge. His talents, though respectable,, 
were not of a high order, as might be supposed from 
nis having been associated with so great a man as 
Hamilton. He had a brother here aLso by the name 
of. James, legally bred, but who seldom plead at the 
bl8>r.. 

John Yarrihgton,a blacksmith, came, it is thought,., 
as early as 1801, and purchased the corner lot where 
Ely's store is, and built a blacksmith's shop on the 
western extremity of the lot, about where Pratt and; 
Sampson's hardv/are store now is. Immediately on 
the corner he built a dwelling house. 

In- 1801, Gen, Whitney purchased a frame that, 
awjod near, Mr.., St. Ibhn's present dwelling,, and set. 



BINGHAMTOI*. 1^ 

•it up in Water-Street, and enclosed it. In this he 
lived until he finished his house on Court-street, it 
is the large part of the present dwelling of Esq. Park. 
Before the house was completed, Gen. Whitney sold 
it to Esq. Mason Whiting, with a lot of fifty feet in 
front running back to the river, for one hundred and 
fifty dollars. Esq. Whiting finished the house:- 
■and out of a frame that previously stood beyond the 
>Susquehannah, put a kitchen to it and occupied it as 
his dwelling. He had come into the place the. year 
before, but in this year he brought his wife. 

Mr. Keeler built the barn for his tavern-stand on 
the opposite and eastern corner of the same block 
where Mr. L. M. Rexford's present druggist store 
is. This was soon moved, and Gen. Whitney sold 
to a Mr. John Townley, who had moved in from 
New Jersey, fifty feet in front, upon which the lat- 
ter built a dwelling house. It is the frame and build- 
ing of Mr. Rexford's present store. Mr. Townley, 
who was the father of Augustus Townley, of this 
village, was from Elizabethtown, N. J,, of a large, 
respectable, and wealthy family there. He was a 
carpenter and house joiner by trade, and being ac- 
tive and skilful in his vocation, rendered himself an 
important member of the rising village. 

In this year also Mr. Daniel Le Roy, an eminent 
lawyer, came into the place, and having purchased 
the corner lot north of the Eagle Buildings, built a 
two story dwelling house nearly on the spot where 
Bragg and Brown's store now is. 

In the same year Guide Bissel purchased a lot 
upon which there was already standing a plank 



182 ANNALS OF 

house, for his own dwelling. It stood upon the^ 
spot of ground where Mr. Zenas Pratt's present 
dwelling is. 

On Court-street, and nearly opposite the present 
Court House, on the north west corner of Court and 
Chenango-streets, stood the first built Court House. 
It was built in this year, 1802, and in size about 
thirty-six feet by twenty-four ; finished in a plain 
and hasty style, having two log jail rooms, and a 
room for the residence of the jailor below, and the 
court room above. It \Vas afterward moved across 
the road, and stood a little down from the top of 
court hill, south of west from the present edifice. 

In the year 1802 or '3 a Mr. Pratt bought a small 
building, rudely put together, and but partly finish- 
ed, of Gen. Whitney, and moved it upon a lot he 
had purchased on Court-street, and fitted it up for a 
pottery. It stood where Merrill and Root's present 
hat store is. It was afterward converted into a 
dwelling. 

In the year 1802, John R. Wildman purchased 
and built on Court-street, a little east of the Ex. 
change Buildings. This building has been remo- 
ved within a few years. Mr. Wildman was a tailor, 
and followed the business for some number of years. 

In 1803, Judge Stuart came into the place. He 
first rented and lived in Gen. Whitney's dwelling 
house that he first built at the foot of Court-street. 
In a short time he removed to the John Townley 
house. After this, in 1805, he purchased the house 
built by John G. Christopher, on Water-street. 
Here he resided a number of years. To this dwell- 



BINGHAMTON. 183 

ing he gave the name of "the cottage house." 

The present opportunity may be embraced to 
give an outhne of the history, of this distinguished 
and early inhabitant of the village. 

Judge William Stuart was a native of Maryland, 
x^t the time hostilities commenced with the mother 
country, he was sixteen years old, and in the course 
of his academical studies. Being of an ardent tem- 
perament, and burning with a desire to throw his 
fortune in with the chivalrous young men of his State, 
who were rallying to the American standard, he ran 
away from his academy, and without the knowledge 
of |his parents joined the colonial army; and al- 
though so young when he committed himself to the 
army, he served throughout the war, and was in 
most of the important battles. He had one near 
relative, a brother, in the army who was killed. 
After the war he went to Europe, and remained 
some years in the United Kingdom and in France. 
After returning, he studied law in the city of New 
York. He commenced the practice of law in Ge- 
neva, where he continued until his marriage with 
the second daughter of Gen. James Clinton. Soon 
after this event he moved to this place. 

In 1802, one Giles Andrus came into the village ; 
was a carpenter ; boarded for a time with Esquire 
Whiting, and built his office, which is yet standing. 
He married here, but afterward went to the West, 
where he died in 1839. 

The same year, 1802, Christopher Woods — the 
fkther of Caleb Woods — Samuel Roberts, and Jo- 
seph Lewis, who had sometime previously settled on 




1S4 A.-NNALS OF 

what is now the Montrose roadj about four miles 
from the village, cleared a road from their settle- 
ment out to the village. This was the first open- 
ing of any part of that road. The land where they 
were located belonged to Judge Cooper's patent. 

In 1803, John S. Townley bought the Mason 
Whiting house and lot, which the latter purchased 
of Gen. Whitney ; and Mr. Whiting, in 1805, pur- 
chased and built upon the other side of the street, 
and further south upon the spot where, and the same 
building in which, he now lives. 

Mason Whiting, Esq. received his classical edu- 
cation under Dr. Dwight, at his academy at Green- 
field, Conn., previously to his election to the presi- 
dency of Yale College. Dr. Dwight, it is well known, 
was distinguished for his great literary attainments, 
and his talents as an instructor. He studied law with 
B. Bidwell, Esq. It is proper here to mention also 
his ancestry, who are traced back to an early period 
in the history of our country. A paternal grand- 
father of his was present, in the capacity of a cap- 
tain, in the taking of Louisburgh from the French, 
in 1745, by the American and English forces, com- 
manded by Sir William Pepperel, and the fleet by 
Sir Peter Warren. Many of his ancestors, on the 
paternal side, were clergymen ; the first of whom, 
in this country, a .clergyman, came from Boston, in 
England, in about 1676, and settled in the eastern 
part of Massachusetts. His family name on the 
maternal side is Mason. The original ancestor in 
this country was John Mason ; who, associated with 
Ferdinand Gorges and some others, obtained from 



BINGHAMTON. 185- 

the Plymouth company, in 16^1, gi-ants of land 
lying north of Massachusetts and west of Piscataqua 
river, embracing the present state of New Hamp-^ 
shire. 

Esq. Whiting's wife is the grand-daughter of the 
Rev. Jonathan Edwards, president, at the time of 
his death, of Princeton College. President Edwards, 
it is well known, was distinguished for his eminent 
piety, his benevolence, and his practical, theological 
and metaphysical writings. 

In about 1803 or '4, William Low, a lawyer, came 
and settled in the village. Mr. Low remained but 
a short time a resident of the village, removing soon 
to Homer. Sherman Page, also a lawyer, came in 
about the same time, a young man, who also left 
after a year or two. He now resides in Unadilla, 
and is an elder brother to Gen. Julius Page, <>f the 
village. 

Not far from this time David Brownson came into 
the place, but settled a little out of the village, near 
and opposite the Two Mile House, a tavern, kept by 
Mr. Woolverton, on the Owego road, and west of 
the village. 

In the year 1803, Thomas Whitney purchased a 
lot on Water-street, and commenced building the 
house, still standing, and the same in which Mr. J. 
Campbell, the blacksmith, now lives. This lot, and 
house partially finished, Mr. Whitney sold to Henry 
Pinckerton, a tailor. Mr. Pinckerton finished the 
house and rented it to Benjamin Sawtell ; and as he 
had no family of his own, he boarded with him. la 
Mr» .Sawtell's family he died the next year. 



I 



186 ANNALS OF 

In 1804, Esq. Whiting put up a building for his 
law office. It is the same he now occupies. 

In the year 1804, Henry T. Shipman built the 
south end of Mr. Z. Pratt's cabinet shop. Mr. Ship- 
man came from Saybrook, Conn., and settled in the 
village in 1803. He was by trade a chair maker 
and painter. In the latter art he especially excelled. 
Upon coming into the village he first rented the 
house just built by John Yarrington, and which stood 
upon Col. Ely's corner. 

In 1803, Wilham Woodruff, Esq. came and set- 
tled in the village. Upon coming here, he was ap- 
pointed magistrate, which office he held for many 
years. He was the first Sheriff* in the newly or- 
ganized county of Broome ; Clerk of the county 
during two terms of that office ; Clerk of the Board 
of Supervisors from 1806 to 1821. Since that time 
Esq. Whiting held the office until 1836. He was a 
man of considerable learning, although self-taught ; 
and his native talent was still more noticeable. 

In 1803 or '4, Gen. Whitney purchased the two 
story building which Le Roy had erected on Court- 
street, where Brown's store now is ; and adding on 
eighteen feet, he appropriated the eastern end to a 
store, in which Esq. Woodruff* was now a partner, 
and leased the larger part to his brother Thomas 
Whitney. Mr. W. immediately opened a tavern in 
it. This building, in about 1805 or '6, was consu- 
loen by fire, at mid-day. It was re-built, however, 
the same season ; and to expedite the building, a 
frame was brought from where Esq. Whiting's pre- 
sent dwelling is. After the second building waa 



BIN(JHAMTON. 187 

erected, Esq. Woodruff was the landlord in it, and 
the store was discontinued. The building was af- 
terward moved to the corner of Henry and Wash- 
ington-streets, and is now owned and occupied by 
Lorenzo B. Olmstead. 

Selah Squires, who had been an apprentice boy 
in the hatting business to Lewis Keeler, while the 
latter carried it on at the old village, in 1803, being 
now out of his apprenticeship, he purchased the cor- 
ner lot where now the Eagle Buildings stand, and 
built a sort of edifice which answered first for a hat- 
ter's shop, and in it he commenced the hatting busi- 
ness ; it answered also for a dwelling house, to 
which use it was afterward applied, after undergo- 
ing several additions and alterations. It was taken 
down, when the first Eagle Buildings were put up. 

About this time, or earlier. Dr. Bartholomew 
came into the village. He was without a family 
here ; was a graduate of Yale College ; a man of 
great medical knowledge and skill ; rough in his 
manners, but kind in his feelings, and especially so 
towards his patients. Previously to his coming into 
this village he had been in the mercantile business 
at the old village in company with one John Bart- 
lett. After this connection dissolved. Dr. B. re- 
turned to his family in Coxsackie, whence he came, 
and Bartlett entered the lumbering business, getting 
masts and spars, until he failed in business. 

In 1804, Lewis Squires, brother to Selah and 
James Squires, came into the place. He was a 
house carpenter, an active, efficient man, and one 
of the principal architects in the buildings that were 



188 ANNALS OF 

erected after he came. The first purchase he made 
was the lot on Court-street, where the Exchange 
Buildings stand. Here he built a dwelling house. 
He soon afterward bought on the opposite side of 
the street a lot andlDuilt a dwelli«g house. This he 
occupied himself for some time. It was standing ^ 
when the canal was in process, and was divided, 
and one half of it removed to make way for the pas- 
sage of that channel. The other half was taken 
down the present season^ 1839, and has given place 
to the large three-story brick building, designed for 
stores and offices, built the present year by John A. 
Collier, who owns almost the entire block or square^ 
of which this building and its site are a part, and 
embraced between Court and Hawley-streets, north 
and soutli, and between the canal and Collier-street, 
east and west. He has given to the block the name 
^f " Le Roy Place," in honor of Daniel Le Roy. 

In the year 1802, Crosby and Blanchard, who 
should have been mentioned before, came into the 
village from Philadelphia, and purchased the store- 
house formerly occupied by McKinney and Whit- 
ney, and filled it the second time with goods. These 
they sold out, without replenishing the store again, 
and dissolved their connection. Blanchard went to 
Owego, and after a temporary stay in that place re- 
turned to Philadelphia. Crosby entered into part- 
nership for a while with Gen. Whitney in a store, 
and then appeared to retire from business. During 
this suspension from other business, he built a large 
-addition to the storehouse, and raising it two stories, 
made a large and elegant dwelling house of it. T© 



BINSHAMTOW.- 189' 

this he added a kitchen, with garden and door-yard 
fences. The whole finished in a style superior to 
any thing before exhibited in the village. He died 
sooa after their completion. Previous to his com- 
ing here, he had been clerk to Mr. Bingham. 

In the fall of 1805, James Squires came into the 
village from Connecticut. And as his brother Se- 
lah was disposed to sell,, in order to go farther to the 
west, James bought of him his corner lot and house. 
In 1806, Mr. Squires purchased a lot upon the 
corner of Washington and Hawley-sti'eets, and built 
a tannery. This was the first building on Wash- 
ington-street ; which, however, was not opened for 
some years afterward. Mr. Squires went from his 
dwelling to his work by a mere path, through the 
oak and pine bushes. 

As early as 1802, Judge William Seymour be-- 
came a resident in the tillage, and commenced the 
study of the law, under Mr. Le Roy. He had just 
finished his preparatory studies when the county of 
Broome was organized ; and he received his license 
from the first court held under the new county. He- 
remained in the village, subsequent to his license. 
only about one year, after which he removed to 
Windsor ; where, as a lawyer, he had the undivi- 
ded business of the place. From 1812 to 1828, he 
held the office of Justice of the Peace. In 1833, he 
returned to Binghamton, upon receiving the ap- 
pointment of first Judge of the county. In Novem- 
ber,. 1834, he was elected' member of Congress. 

In the autumn of 1805,. Dr. Elihu Ely settled iri'. 
tiie village,. His place of nativity was Lyme,.im 



190 ANNALS OF 

Conn. He studied medicine under Dr. Hall, of 
Middletown, of the same State. Attended a full 
course of medical lectures in the city of New- York ; 
an advantage which medical students did not com- 
monly avail themselves of in that day. He com- 
menced the practice of medicine immediately on 
coming into the place. After about one year he 
opened a small druggist store in a part of a building 
that stood on Court-street, between the present Ex- 
change Buildings and Hayden's saddler's shop. The 
next year, 1807, he purchased a lot on the ^ame 
street, but farther east, upon the declivity of the hill, 
ajid built a storehouse — the same that was taken 
down the present season. In this he opened a store, 
of a general nature, and of considerable magnitude, 
for that early day. In 1810, he purchased a lot 
immediately opposite the Court House, and north of 
the lot which belonged to James Park, who was on 
the corner. For this lot, which was one acre and a 
half in size, he gave $300. In November of the 
same year he bought the lot, of one acre, upon 
which the Bank stands. In 1811, he purchased the 
building and lot in which he first opened his drug- 
gist store. The building was a dwelling, in whicii 
Mr. Wildman formerly lived ; and of whom the Dr. 
purchased. The lot contained two acres, and the 
whole was bought for $1100. In this dwelling he 
lived for a number of years. In 1813, he bought 
tlie lot upon which his present dwelling is, and which 
eanbraces the brick store of Bragg and Brown. In 
later years his purchases of village property have 
been numerous. Dr. Ely laid aside his practice in 



BINGHAMTON. 191 

medicine in 1832. He was active in forming the 
first medical society in the county, of which he was 
the treasurer. 

In 1806, James and John Park, twin brothers of 
Esq. George and Rufus, purchased the corner lot 
on Chenango and Court-streets, opposite and west 
of the bank ; built a storehouse and opened a store. 
The building was lately taken down. 

In the same year Lewis Squires purchased where 
the Exchange Buildings now stand, and built a 
dwelling house, of two stories, in which he lived for 
a short time. This building was torn down when 
the Exchange Buildings went up. After building, 
-the following year, he exchanged with Mr. Le Roy 
the said house and lot for other property, and mo- 
ved his family over into Water-street, in a small 
house standing near Mr. John Doubleday's present 
dwelling. In this year 1806, the county of Broome 
was organized. 

In this year, also. Rev. John Camp moved with- 
in the precincts of the village, into the house owned 
by the widow Crosby, and which had been lately 
vacated by the death of her husband. Mr. Camp 
had lived in the immediate neighborhood of the vil- 
lage since the year 1802, in a log house which stood 
near the north bank of the Susquehannah, about 
midway between Gen. Waterman's Mills and Mr. 
Quaife's Brewery above. The house was compara- 
tively old when Mr. Camp occupied it ; having been 
built as early as 1788, by Nathaniel Delano. Mr. 
Delano was a blacksmith ; had a bellows and anvil. 
And did a little at blacksmithing, but very limited, as 



W2' ANNALS OF 

there was as yet a©- iron to be obtained. He left, 
a^er a few years. 

The Rev. Mr. Camp was originally from Ply- 
mouth, Conn. He had been designed by his parents, 
more particularly his father, in the education he re- 
ceived, for the Episcopal ministry. He, however, 
entered the Presbyterian ministry. He received 
the title of Master of Arts from Yale College, his 
Alma Mater, in 1780,, about which time he was 
married. Some time after this he settled over the 
Presbyterian congregation at New Canaan, where 
he remained the pastor for nearly twenty years. He 
was deprived of his ministerial functions when he 
came here, although he sometimes preached when 
invited. He lived here in very considerable obscu- 
rity, and reduced to the necessity of laboring in^ 
some petty business ; and that, too, without under- 
standing it.. 

He was esteemed in his day, as a popular and 
able minister, whose preaching was always accept- 
able to every class of hearers. The contrast be- 
tween his former and latter life must have been 
mortifying to himself, as well as painful to his friends. 
He remarked one day while here, as he sat upon his 
shaving horse, at work, " the time was," said he,. 
" when every person who met me, bowed to me ;; but 
now, none bow to me but my old horse,^^ 

In 1807, Mr. Zenas Pratt came into the village 
from- Saybrook ;. went into the cabinet business, and^ 
a part of the time worked as a house carpenter. The 
shop he first worked in was the south part of his 
present shop,, opposite his dwelling,> Soon after." 



BmGHAMTON. 193 

coming into the place he purchased the lot wiiere 
he now Hves, of Henry T. Shipman, with a plank 
house upon it. This had served as a dwelling for Mr. 
Shipman, since 1804, at which time the latter pur- 
chased the premises. In 1816, Mr. Pratt removed 
tlie plank house, and built the rear or kitchen part 
of his present dwelHng. In 1831, he built the front 
part of his house. 

In 1807, Mr. Whitney built a store east of his 
dwelling house. 

In the same year, Mr. Benjamin Sawtell built a 
two story dwelling house on Water-street, which is 
yet standing ; and is next soufeh of Mr. Pratt's cabi- 
net shop. In this house he dwelt for several years. 

Mr. Benjamin Sawtell is the son of Capt. Sawtell, 
who was among the very first settlers of the coun- 
try, and who settled upon the very farm which had 
been occupied by the celebrated Patterson, who, by 
fraud, contrived to obtain a title to the Castle farm,.- 
He moved here from Vermont. Was at the battle 
of Bunker^s Hill, and Captain of the militia towards 
the close of the war. Mr. Sawtell, the son, was 
about thirteen years of age when his father moved 
into the parts. He remembers distinctly the load- 
ing events in the history of the settlement and of the 
village down to the present time. He has been a 
very active and skillful mechanic, as carpenter and 
house joiner, and has been employed in most of the 
edifices, from the first building of the village down 
to the last important building that has been reared. 

In the same year, 1807, Judge Monell, then a 

young man, and lately admitted to- the bar, came- 
13 



194 ANNALS OF 

into the place. The next year he built him an of- 
fice, which stood on Water-street, on the west side, 
somewhere between John D. Smith's yellow and 
white buildings. He continued the practice of law 
here until 1811, when he moved to Greene. He is 
now Circuit Judge. 

It was in the year previous, that is, 1806, that 
Christopher Eldredge came into the village, and 
first went into partnership with Mr. Le Roy, in the 
mercantile business. 

In this year, 1807, Judge McKinney took charge, 
as landlord, of the Keeler tavern-house. Benjamin 
Morse was living, at this time, on the corner where 
Col. Ely's store is ; a saddler. On the opposite 
corner, where Rexford's drug store is, lived Andrew 
Farling, and kept a tavern ; only, however, a short 
time. He left suddenly, having taken alarm at an 
effigy he found at his own door, early in the morn- 
ing, mounted upon a wooden liorse, with a note attach- 
ed to it, that thus he should be served, if he ever af- 
terward was found guilty of wlvtpjping his wife. 

In 1808, Daniel Rogers, a lawyer came into the 
village, and entered very soon into partnership with 
Daniel Le Roy. 

In this year the Chenango Bridge was built, at 
the sole charge and direction of Lucas Elmendorf, 
of Kingston, Ulster county. A more particular ac- 
count of this bridge will be given in another place. 
This was an important step in the progress of the 
rising village. The river was no longer an obsta- 
cle to villagers or foreigners in passing upon the 
highway. 



BINGHAMTON. 195 

In the year 1809, Mr. Le Roy purchased on the 
west side of the Chenango, and built for himself a 
dwelling house ; the same that is yet standing, and 
occupied now by James S. Hawley. Several build- 
ings this year went up on the west side of the river, 
an easy transition being now formed from one bank 
to the other. 

David Brownson built the Peterson tavern-house, 
and opened a tavern. He had formerly kept the 
ferry where the bridge now stands. 

The same year Arnold Burrell, a wagon-maker, 
and the father of Arora Burrell, built upon the south 
west corner, and opposite Mr. Brownson. The 
house is a part of the present dwelling of Mr. Myron 
Merrill. 

Another building, on the north east of these cor- 
ners, was put up this year by James McKinney, 
nephew to Judge McKinney. It was built for a 
store and occupied as such. A Mr. Powell after- 
ward enlarged the building materially, and kept in 
it a very large store, but only a comparatively short 
time — a year or two. 

In this year, 1809, Mr. John A. Collier settled 
in the village, then a young man, and lately from 
his legal studies. Mr. Colher studied law in the cel- 
ebrated law school at Litchfield, where he went thro' 
an entire course of the studies of the institution. 
After leaving this school, he wrote for some time 
in the office of a distinguished la^^vyer in the city of 
Troy. He was licensed in 1809. The next year 
after his location in the village, he entered into part- 
nership with Mr. Le Roy. In 1812, he purchased 



196 ANNALS OF 

of Lewis Squires a house and lot on the south side 
of Court-street. The house was divided and a part 
of it removed to make way for the passage of the 
canal. This was the first purchase he made of real 
estate. In 1815, he purchased a lot and built the 
house in which Mr. Charles B. Pixley lives. Mr. 
Collier, from the time of his coming into the place, 
has had a large share of practice, through the medi- 
um of which, with other conspiring circumstances, 
he has acquired great wealth, as well as a large 
share of celebrity. In 1818, he was appointed Dis- 
trict Attorney for the county of Broome. The first 
that had been appointed exclusively for this county. 
Previously to this date, the districts to which the 
state attorneys were individually appointed, were 
very large ; embracing several counties. That 
over which Judge Stuart presided as attorney, ex- 
tended at one time to Niagara. In this year, 1818, 
the Legislature provided that one should be appoint- 
ed for each county. 

What was formerly Watts' Patent, was purcha- 
sed by John A. Collier, in 1835, and lies about mid- 
way between Binghamton and Colesville, contain, 
ing about 14,000 acres, and purchased for $10,000. 
In 1823, Mr. Collier, in company with eight others, 
purchased of Barzillai Gray, one of the heirs of 
Arthur Gray, fifty acres, on a portion of which, 
that fell to his own lot^ his present mansion house 
is located. 

In the year 1827, Mr. Collier built the houSe 
next south of his office, on Franklin-street, where 
his brother Hamilton now lives, for his father, Tho- 



BINGHAMTON. 197 

tnas Collier, who is still living, and both aged and 
venerable ; a happy representative too of the age 
that has just gone by. 

Mr. Thomas Collier was born in Boston, in the 
year 1761. His father, Richard Collier, is said to 
have been the first — the earliest — brazier in that 
city. Mr. T. Collier was present when the tea 
was thrown overboard in that harbor. He witnes- 
sed most of those exciting events in that city, which 
hastened hostilities. He is familiar with the leading 
events of the war that succeeded, and was person- 
ally acquainted with many of its distinguished offi- 
cers. He served an apprenticeship in the printing 
business with his uncle, Thomas Draper, who print- 
ed one of the earliest papers in Boston. Mr. Draper 
dying a few years previous to the war, his widow 
conducted the establishment in her own name, until 
the commencement of the war ; when, being a roy- 
alist in her sentiments, she went to England and 
took with her her niece, the sister of T. Collier, 
then a little girl. This niece resided with her aunt 
in London until she'was grown, and then married 
a Mr, Hamilton — after whom Hamilton Collier is 
called — who was for some time Clerk to the House 
of Lords. 

Mr. John A. Collier, in 1828, built his law office. 
In 1829, in view of building a new Clerk's office, 
where it would be less exposed to fire, Ammi Doub- 
leday and Samuel Smith were authorized to seU the 
old office, which stood on the south side of Court- 
street, and a little east of the present Eagle Build- 
ings, in a neighborhood that was then fast building 



198 ANNALS OF 

up. Mr. Collier purchased this office and the lot 
upon which it stood, and purchasing the other half 
of the same, lot, which had been previously sold to 
John C. Swain, upon which Mr. Swain had put up 
a building corresponding to the office-house, which 
was then three stories in height. The two united, 
constituted the building that was burnt down the last 
season in the great fire. In 1830, Mr. Collier was 
elected member of Congress. In 1837 and '8, he 
built the elegant mansion house now occupied by 
him, and called Ingleside. 

As this mansion house is entitled to more repu- 
tation for elegant proportions, beauty, and even 
grandeur, than probably any other private dwell- 
ing in this entire section of country, it may be pro- 
per to speak of it with some particularity. It is 
situated on the north side of the village. The main 
body of the building is 42 by 44 feet, exclusive of 
the wing, with a basement story. A double front, 
one looking towards the Chenango river, the other 
upon the gardens and pleasure grounds, with ele- 
gant colonades upon each front. The porticos are 
of the Ionic order, and the style and proportions 
are upon the most perfect principles of architecture ; 
the proportions being modelled after the lUysis 
Temple. Five fluted columns, twenty-three feet in 
length, and two feet eight inches in diameter, with 
bases and carved capitals, support each entablature. 
The drawing rooms are entered by folding doors ; 
and if it is proper to speak of things within, they 
are richly furnished. 

In the year 1809, also, came Col. Oliver Ely, a 



t ' 
BINGHAMTON. 199 

brother to Dr. Ely. He spent the summer and 
winter here ; writing a part of the time in the Clerk's 
office for his brother, who was then deputy clerk, 
and taught a school the rest of the time during his 
stay. He returned home in the spring, and in the 
fall of 1810 he came back, and went immediately 
into mercantile business, in partnership with his 
brother. This mercantile connection remained un- 
til 1819, when, having purchased the corner lot upon 
which his present store stands, at a price of $700, he 
dissolved with his brother, and commenced business 
alone. The small red dwelling house which stood 
upon the lot, and which was built, it will be remem- 
bered, by Yarrington, he moved north to the site of 
his present dwelling, and built a store upon its foun- 
dation. The red house he occupied as a dwelling, 
until he built his brick house, in 1831. This build- 
ing, while on the corner, was occupied for a while 
by John A. Collier. It now stands on Hawley-st., 
south of the Court House lot. The buildings con- 
nected with his store, and extending down Court-st., 
he built some time after his store, and separately ; 
but in 1825, he made such alterations in them as 
enabled him to put one entire roof over the whole. 
In 1831, he built his present dwelling, which is of 
brick, and stands on Washington-street, at the 
northern extremity of his original corner lot. It is 
forty by fifty feet, and of a proportionate height ; 
built at an expense of between four and five thousand 
dollars ; and may be justly esteemed, besides its in- 
trinsic utility to the proprietor, an ornament to the 
place. 



200 ANNALS OF 



CHAPTER XV. 

In the year 1810, Dr. Tracy Robinson became a 
resident of the village. Dr. Robinson came here 
from Columbus, in Chenango county, of this state, 
where he had practiced medicine for ten years. Pre- 
vious to this he had practiced one year in Sherburne. 
This was the first of hia practice. Dr. R. studied 
medicine first under a Dr. Manning, of Lisbon, in 
Connecticut. The latter part of his study was con- 
ducted under Dr. Thompson, of Brookfield, Madi- 
son county. 

Soon after coming into the place he purchased 
where Mr. Merrill's hat store and Mr. Rugg's law 
office are — a lot, dwelling house and store for $800. 
He went immediately into the druggist business, oc- 
cupying the store for that purpose, and continued, 
at the same time, the practice of medicine. In 1812, 
he took Dr. Ammi Doubleday into partnership with 
himself, in the two departments, for the term of five 
years. Before the expiration of this time. Dr. 
Doubleday took the druggist business into his own 
hands, and Dr. Robinson opened a store of dry 
goods ; practising at the same time, and at this par- 
ticular time too, conducting the press. He contin- 
ued the dry goods store for about three years, and 
then practiced medicine exclusively for some three 
or four years. In 1819, he went into the tavern- 
liouse where Mr. Jarvis now keeps. Here he con- 
tinued ten years with Maj. A. Morgan, his partner. 



BINGHAMTON. , 201 

During this time he discontinued practice. He gave 
to the establishment, of which he was landlord, the 
name of the "Binghamton Hotel," which it has ever 
since retained. 

At the expiration of these ten years, he resumed 
the dry goods business, in which he continued till 
1833, when he was appointed Postmaster, which of- 
fice he still continues to hold. He was appointed 
Judge and Justice of the Peace in 1811. At the 
adoption of the new constitution, in 1822, he was 
appointed first Judge of Broome county. This of- 
fice he held till 1833, when Judge Seymour was ap- 
pointed in his place. 

Since the establishment of the Episcopal church 
in the place. Dr. Robinson has been almost contin- 
ually an active and important member of its Vestry. 

In 1810, a Mr. Atvvell came into the place, and 
made a contract for a lot, where the Phenix Hotel 
is, and built a blacksmith's shop and followed the 
business ; but with this business he connected — in- 
congruous as it may appear — that of teaching a dan- 
cing school and playing the violin for his pupils. 
He would work at his blacksmithing in the day time, 
and teach his dancing school at night. Men of the 
first respectability of the place attended ; so ready 
were they to avail themselves of but a poor oppor- 
tunity to acquire this important art. 

In this year, 1810, George Park, Esq. became a 
resident of the village. He came to this place from 
Amenia, Dutchess county, which is his native place* 
He studied law under James Tallmadge, Esq. of 
Poughkeepsie, and was admitted to the bar in 1811, 



St ^ 

202 j^ j^ ANNALS OF 

He was deputy clerk in 1817 and '18, doing the 
entire business of the office under A. Doubleday, 
the principal ; appointed Surrogate in 1822, and 
held that office for thirteen years ; was a Commis- 
sioner of Deeds from 1820 to 1834; was elected 
Justice of the Peace in 1829 and holds that office 
still. Esq. Park, in 1812, married the daughter of 
J. G. Bessac, a French gentleman, who came to this 
country during the revolutionary war, as one of the 
Staff of Count Rochambeau. M. Bessac married, 
in this country, the daughter of Col. Nichols, of 
Dutchess county ; and the daughter, Mrs. Park, ex- 
hibits, even now, the results of an early education, 
far superior to that of most— even of the educated 
part — of American females. 

Esq. Park has, for a number of years, turned his 
attention, in his leisure hours, to the science of min- 
eralogy. During sixteen or eighteen years he has 
been collecting minerals ; and his cabinet consists 
now of about 300 specimens, exclusive of shells, 
petrefactions, &c. which he has obtained, in his cor- 
respondence, with remote parts of the world, as well 
as from his own section of the country. 

In this year also Marshall Lewis, the father of 
Col. H. Lewis, of the village, moved his family into 
the place ,- built a saw mill and grist mill where his 
son's mills now are ; a man of enterprise and busi- 
ness talents, as well as of mechanical genius. 

In the same year there was built a two story 
school house, through the enterprise of Mr. Le Roy, 
on the. west side of the river, on Front-street, a lit- 
tle south of Mr. Merrill's dwelling house. It was 



BINGHAMTON. . 203 

taken down by Mr. Collier. This house was built 
to induce settlement on that side of the river. 

In 1811, Mr. Lewis St. John came from Canaan, 
Conn., with a young family, and settled first on the 
old road as it led down from the old Chenango vil- 
lage, where Deacon Smith now lives. He and his 
father at this time purchased together. In 1815, he 
purchased where he now lives, on the west side of 
tlie Chenango. The purchase or farm contained 
107 acres, lying within the present corporation 
limits ; i. e. from Front-street west to the western 
boundary of the corporation, and from the Susque- 
hannah north to within forty rods of Main-street. 
The purchase was made of Mr. Le Roy, at $20 per 
acre ; and about one-fourth part, at that time, clear- 
ed. The rise in the value of land has made the 
purchaser wealthy. 

In this year, 1811, Mr. Myron Merrill came into 
the village. His parents moved from West Hart- 
ford, in 1800, to Sherburne, Chenango county, when 
he was eleven years of age. He served an appren- 
ticeship with his brother at the hatting business. 
Upon coming into the place he commenced business 
on the west side of the Chenango, and north side 
of the road, and in the second building from tht; 
bridge, yet standing. He purchased where he now 
lives, in 1818, for 81100. He married the daugh- 
ter of Asa Robinson, the father of Peter Robinson, 
of the village. Mr. Merrill was concerned with J. 
Whitney and S. Weed in putting up the stone build- 
ing, and the brick building adjoining, which were 
opposite and north of the Binghamton Hotel. He 



204 ANNALS OF 

was in the mercantile business from 1822 to '27 
with Richard Mather ; engaged from 1828 to '35 
with Mr. Leavenworth in the same business. He 
has been a member of the Vestry of the Epis- 
copal church nearly the whole time of its existence 
here ; was an original proprietor of the Susquehan- 
hah Bridge, He and Mr. Root entered into com- 
pany in the hatting business, both as merchants and 
manufacturers, in 1833, and still continue that re- 
lation. 

In this year also came Col. Joseph B. Abbott, 
when only fourteen years of age, with the family and 
under the care of Lewis St. John. He served an 
apprenticeship with Mr. James Squires. He went 
into business in 1820 for himself, in company with 
Lewis Squires, whose daughter he married in 1821. 
Mr. Abbott soon after this travelled into the states of 
Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Virginia, to inform 
himself of men, and of his particular business. He, 
v/ith his father-in-law, built for their tanning opera- 
tions, on Court-street, which were taken away by 
the passage of the canal. They, in company, built, 
in 1828, the old tavern-house, called from the be- 
ginning, the " Broome County House," which was 
destroyed in the great fire. The stand had been 
previous to the fire sold for $10,000. Mr. Abbott's 
brothers, William and Charles, became partners 
with him in 1836. 

As late as 1811, the shrub oaks and yellow 
pines were standing within four rods of the Court 
House. 

In this year, James C. Smead came and set up 



BINGHAMTON. 205 

blacksmithing ia Water-street, where hi& shop now 
stands. 

In the year 1812, John S. Townley, who has been 
spoken of as an early settler in the village, and as 
an active and important mechanic, suddenly and 
mysteriously disappeared ; and it is not known to 
this day what became of him. 

In 1812, several chiefs visited the village from 
Oneida, to make enquiry relative to the possibility 
of re-obtaining the Castle farm. From this it ap- 
pears they were the natural heirs of those who were 
once its proprietors. They called upon John A. 
Collier for counsel. Upon enquiry, Mr. Collier 
found that they could not produce available testi- 
mony before a court, he therefore could give them 
no encouragement. 

Maj. Augustus Morgan appears to have been the 
principal, if not the only, addition made to the vil- 
lage inhabitants this year. Mr. Morgan, either im- 
mediately, or soon after coming into the village, 
went into the printing business. In 1819, in com- 
pany with his father-in-law, he kept the public house 
where Mr. Jarvis now keeps, then called the " Bing- 
hamton Coffee House. " Its present name was given 
it by Dr. Robinson. In 1820, he went into the 
staging business ; and since that period has had a 
large interest in extended and remote lines in dif- 
ferent parts of the Union. 

The next year, 1813, Thomas G. Waterman be- 
came a resident of the village. The place of his 
nativity, and from which he migrated, was Salisbu- 
ry, Conn. He was educated in Yale College;. 



206 ANNALS OF 

studied law under Judge Sherwood, now a distin- 
guished lawyer in the city of New York. Mr. Wa- 
terman has written and published a work, entitled 
" The Justice's Manual." This work has had a 
wide circulation, and has passed, it is believed, 
through three editions. He has been a member of 
both houses of the State Legislature, one year in the 
House of Assembly, and four years in the Senate. 
Mr. Waterman married the ' daughter of Gen. J. 
Whitney. Mrs. Waterman received from her fa- 
ther, as a marriage dower, the corner house and 
lot where the Eagle Buildings now stand, which 
had been lately purchased of James Squires. The 
edifice Mr. Waterman enlarged and improved, and 
attached to it a small law office. Here he lived 
until 1818, when he moved to Front-street, where 
he now lives. Gen. Waterman is now extensively 
ena;aged in the lumbering interest, and transports 
yearly to market about one million of feet ; sending 
his lumber by the Chenango and Erie canals to Al- 
bany, Troy and New- York. 

From this time forth and previously, there were 
men in it who were well qualified to give order and 
stability to the legal and financial interest and pro- 
ceedings of the village, and happily disposed to induce 
and encourage both by their example and direct or 
indirect precept, business tact and habits. This 
contributed largely to lay the foundation for that 
order, precision, industry, economy, and consequent 
prosperity, for which the village may be distinguish- 
ed. The legal knowledge of gentlemen of the law 
came materially into requisition, to expound the 



' BINGHAMTON. 207 

law of the land, and to explain the rights and du- 
ties of men in their new relations. This greatly 
facilitated and rendered more safe the commercial 
intercouse of the village inhabitants. 

In 1812, Dr. Ammi Doubleday came from Lebs- 
non Springs, in Columbia county, to Berkshire in 
Tioga county, where he remained but a few months ; 
he then removed to Windsor, and boarded in the 
family of the present Deacon Stow ; here he remain, 
ed but for a short time, and came into this village 
in December of 1813, when he went immediately 
into the druggist business, in partnership with Dr. 
Robinson, and practiced medicine at the same time. 
This partnership^continued about one year ; and 
after the close of it, Dr. Doubleday continued the 
business alone about the same period. He then 
sold out the establishment to his brother, John 
Doubleday, who had, since his coming into the vil- 
lage, been his clerk. After dissolving his connec- 
tion with the druggist business he went to superin- 
tend the lime works, about eight miles above the 
village, on the west side of the Chenango. Here it 
is believed he remained until he was appointed coun- 
ty Clerk, in 1817. 

Dr. Doubleday, even previously to his appoint- 
ment to the clerkship, had discontinued the practice 
of medicine, probably from having entered so largely 
into other business. Since the close of his clerk- 
ship, which was in 1820 or '21, till within a few 
years, he has been engaged in the purchase and sale 
of village property. He has lately had charge of a 
section of the great water works, designed to sup- 



208 ANNALS OF 

ply the city of New York with water. He has at 
this time charge of the first and second sections of 
tlic New-York and Erie Raih'oad. 

Dr. Doubleday acquired his medical knowledge, 
previous to his license, of Dr. De Lamater, a phy- 
sician of very great celebrity, both as practitioner 
and as professor in the medical school at Pittsfield, 
Mass. Dr. D.'s attainments in medicine, even at 
the time of his commencing practice, is said to have 
been much above mediocrity. His attainments also 
in mineralogy, which have been made since in his 
leisure hours — and such the most industrious may 
find— are well worthy of notice and commendation. 

In this year John T. Doubleday, brother of Dr. 
Ammi Doubleday, came into the village. He mar- 
ried the daughter of Esq. M. Whiting, who has al- 
ready been spoken of. Mr. Doubleday has turned 
his attention for a number of years to gardening as 
a science, to botany, and to mineralogy. His gar- 
den, though not large, contains a great variety of 
plants and flowers. Many of them are wild flow- 
ers, brought under cultivation, and several foreign 
and rare plants. Mr. D. has for many years been 
a member of the Presbyterian church. Mrs. Doub- 
leday, his wife, has written recently a volume, enti- 
tled "Hints and Sketches." It is of a religious 
character, and is written in an easy and perspicuous 
style. ' 

In this year, 1813, Mr. Benjamin Sawtell built a 
store for Christopher Eldredge, where Col. Lewis' 
store now stands. In raising this building, the' 
company of a recruiting officer, Capt. Danvers, wa* 



BINGHAMTON. 209 

invited to assist in raising. This occasioned less 
regularity and care in the erection ; the consequen- 
ces were nearly fatal. The frame, when about 
two-thirds raised, fell, and materially hurt several. 
That, with two others, built since, have been raised 
two stories high, with a brick front, and one roof 
put over the whole. 

In this year, Stephen Weed came into the place 
from Westchester county. Mr. Weed has employ- 
ed himself in a variety of business, and has acqui- 
red a handsome estate. 

In 1814, John B. Mcintosh came into the vil- 
lage from the city of New- York, a tailor. This 
business he has uniformly followed since. He first 
bought and built on the south sida of the causeway, 
which extends from the foot of Court-street to the 
end of the red bridge ; at that time a part of the 
bridge itself. His house was one story above the 
bridge and two stories below. Three others, built 
in the same manner, with the buildings united, and 
thus formed a little row. 

In the year 1814, also, Julius Page, now General 
Page, came into the village,^ and entered as appren- 
tice clerk to Mr. Whitney and Mr. Eldredge, who 
were then partners in mercantile business. Gen. 
Page, was born in this town in 1799, the son of 
Jai-ed Page, who settled as early as 1791, at the 
mouth of a creek emptying into the Chenango, op- 
posite Big Island, called since Page's Creek. Gen. 
Page, when a child, was" obliged to be familiar with 
tlie sight of the Indians,' and with the papooses, 

though he states he was always afraid of them. In 
14 



210 ANNALS OP 

1820, he commenced business in Lisle. The next 
year he commenced business in the village in Court- 
street, in a small wooden building where Whiting 
and [Squires' present store is, then owned by Mr. 
Whitney. There were then only one store on the 
north side of the street besides Gen. Page's ; and on 
the south side two stores, Eldredge's and Hawley 
and Tompkins'. In 1823 he purchased a lot where 
his store now is, on which then stood a shed belong- 
ing to the tavern-house. It was a part of the ori- 
ginal tavern lot, and bought for $150. In the same 
year he purchased the house and lot where Judge 
Robinson now lives. In 1825, he purchased where 
he now lives, of his brother ; the house and out- 
buildings in a very unfinished state. In 1839, he 
received Mr. R. M. Bailey, from Berkshire county, 
Mass. into partnership in his store. 

In 1815, Samuel Smith, Esq, became a resident 
of the village. He, with his wife, moved from 
Westchester county. He went immediately into 
the tanning and currying business, which he has 
prosecuted ever since. He early built the house in 
which Dr. Brooks now resides, and lived in it un- 
til he built his present dwelling house. He was 
appointed Justice of the Peace in 1825, and held 
the office for ten years ; was Supervisor one year. 

Mr. Richard Mather came from Lyme, Conn, in 
1815, and entered as clerk in Col. Ely's store. He 
went into business for himself in 1823. In 1824, 
he built on the west side of the Chenango river, 
where Mr. Hall now owns and lives ; built his pre- 
sent residence in 1838 ; built after the modern style 



BINGHAMTON. 



211 



of large pillars. His brother Henry came into the 
village much later, in 1828 ; but entered immedi- 
ately into partnership with his elder brother in the 
mercantile business. They have both been suc- 
cessful in this branch of enterprize. They married 
sisters, the daughters of Esq. M. Whiting ; and 
have been members and able supporters of the Pres- 
byterian church for a number of years. 

Sylvester Mather, the father of Richard and 
Henry, was master of a vessel employed in the West 
India trade. He was lost at sea in the year 1811, 
of whom no trace was afterward heard. He was 
bound, when he left the last known port, to the Isl- 
and of Antigua. His widow, who is still living, and 
lives in this village, was left with seven children, so 
young as to be dependent upon the wisdom, exer- 
tion, and provident care of the mother. Mr. 
Mather was a descendant of Increase Mather, 
whose celebrity, as a pious, efficient and early 

clergyman of New England, has reached down to 
our dav. 

In this year, also, Peter Robinson, Esq. came into 
the place. He had then lately graduated at Dart- 
mouth College, in Hanover, N. H., of which state 
he is a native. He studied law in this place under 
Gen. Waterman, and was admitted to the bar in 
1819. Mr. Robinson was a member, and an active 
and able member too, of the State Legislature for 
six years, terminating in 1831 ; one term of which 
he was chosen Speaker of the House. He has al- 
ways been considerad an able advocate in the 
courts of his own county. He has held the office 



212 ANNALS OP 

of Surrogate, and been magistrate for a length of 
time. 

In 1816, Mr. Jonas Waterhouse and family came 
from Hunterdon county, N. J*, and settled where 
Mr. C. Eldredge now resides. He purchased a 
farm upon that location of four hundred acres. This 
farm constitutes an important part of Mr. Eldredge's 
premises, where he lives. He built the west end of 
Mr. Eldredge's present residence. He occupied 
these premises for about twelve years, and kept the 
ferry at the crossing place until the Susquehannah 
bridge was built. Owing to financial embarrass- 
ment, he was obliged to part with his property for 
much less than its appropriate value. 

In 1817, Mr. Le Roy left the village and moved 
to the West. 

In the year 1818, Maj. Martin Hawley came into 
the village. He bought of Joshua Whitney, the 
store now occupied by Col. Lewis. Upon going 
into the mercantile business he took a& a partner, 
Mr. Gilbert Tompkins, who had become a resident 
in the village about the same time. In 1821, he 
bought the house now owned and occupied by 
Daniel S. Dickinson, Esq., then in an unfinished 
state ; and after fitting it up, nearly answering to its 
present style, he moved his fcimily into it. In 1828, 
he purchased of the agent of the Bingham estate, in 
conjunction with Col. Tower, nearly all the vacant 
lands in the eastern part of the village plot, amount- 
ing to about seventy acres. It was then covered 
with oak and pine, which, in a short time, he clear- 
ed and sowed with wheat. In the year 1829, and 



BINGHAMTON. 213 

subsequently, at different times., he purchased of 
the State, and of the heirs and assigns of the late 
Judge Cooper, about 2500 acres of land lying be- 
tween the Susquehannah river and the state line. 
This tract had been occupied either by purchasers 
under Judge Cooper, or by squatters, to the number 
of about twenty families. At the time Maj. Hawley 
made these purchases, the residents had nearly all 
abandoned the land, and condemned it to sterility, 
and as unfit for cuhivation ; but being of an opinion 
that this notion had been taken up from mistaken 
premises and a very imperfect trial of the soil, and 
feeling desirous to redeem the up-lands of the county 
from the unreasonable — or at least unfavorable — 
prejudices they seemed so generally to lie under, 
as well as the laudable purpose to cultivate the land 
under.his own supervision, he moved on to the tract 
in the spring of 1833. He commenced a dairy of 
fifly cows; and by various experiments and im- 
provements, he soon ascertained that these lands, in 
common with all the up-lands of Broome county, are 
of an excellent quality for all the grasses that are 
cultivated in this country ; and abundantly capable, 
with suitable cultivation, of producing grains of all 
kinds, even sufficient to sustain a dense population. 
Maj. Hawley remained upon his Cooper tract for 
three seasons, when he returned to the village ; and 
having subdivided his village land into lots, he has 
since been employed in building upon some, and 
disposing of others. 

The same year, 1818, Mr. Gilbert Tompkins 
came into the village as a resident, from Oneida 



214 ANNALS OP 

county, and went immediately into the mercantile 
business in co-partnership with Maj. Hawley. In 
this branch of business, with the same firm, he con- 
tinued till 1827. Built the corner stone store build- 
ing, on the north side of Court-street, and opposite 
Jarvis' Hotel, in 1827. He became one of the pro- 
prietors of the red bridge in 1831. At the period 
of Mr. Tompkins' coming into the village, the price 
of transportation from New-York was $3 per cwt. ; 
now, the price is sixty-two and a half cents. He 
built his present residence in 1830, which is of 
tasty structure, and stands, though in the midst of 
the village, yet retiredly situated, on the eastern 
bank of the Chenango. Maj. Hawley and Mr. 
Tompkins married sisters. 

The year previous, in 1817, Philip Bigler moved, 
into the village. He was originally from Hunter- 
don county, N. J., and emigrated intO' Union, in 
1805. In 1822, he moved to Utica ; and in 1833, 
he returned to the village, and has since been en- 
gaged in the bakery and provision business. 

In this year, 1820, Mr. Jeremiah Campbell came 
into the place and set up his blacksmitliing, where he 
now is. 

In 1821, Thomas and James Evans came into 
the village. They are twin brothers, who came 
from Tinbury, in Worcestershire, of England. They 
were mechanics of the first description, and had 
been in business in England. Their connections 
in their native country are both wealthy and respect- 
able. Upon coming here, Thomas purchased the 
corner house which was formerly owned by Tho- 



BINGHAMTON* ^ 2l5 

mas G. Waterman, where he lived for a number of 
years. His present Eagle Buildings occupy the 
same site. James, the brother, purchased the op- 
posite corner of Dr. A. Doubleday. James now 
resides in the country, about three miles out of the 
village. They have both become wealthy. 

In this year, also, 1821, Samuel Peterson, the Inn- 
keeper upon the west side of the Chenango river, 
came into the village. He moved to this place from 
Philadelphia. 

In 1822 or '3, Hamilton Collier came into the 
place from Owego ; studied law under his brother, 
John A. Collier, and was admitted to practice in 
1829. Pie received the appointment of District 
Attorney in 1829. 

In 1823, Dr. Silas West came from Vernon, in 
Oneida county. He immediately commenced the 
practice of medicine, and went also into the drug- 
gist business. He continues the practice of medi- 
cine still, and has at no time of his village life sus- 
pended it. Dr. West studied medicine in Paris, 
Oneida county, under Dr. Judd, an uncle of Mrs D. 
Lanterman ; attended lectures at Fairfield, in Her- 
kimer county. 

In the same year, David Lanterman came into 
the village and went first into the druggist business, 
in partnership with Dr. West, in the red store on 
Water-street. In 1828, he purchased and built 
where he now lives. In 1830, he formed a co- 
partnership with Solon Stocking in a store which 
was kept m. a part of the Centre Buildings, and 
which continued two years. Mr. Lanterman was a 



216 j^ ANNALS OF 

member of the Board of Trustees of the village In 
1837. 

In 1824, Mr. Solon Stocking was appointed as 
preacher in the Methodist connection, upon this 
circuit. Before one year of his ministry here ex- 
pired, his health so far failed him, as obliged him to 
relinquish preaching, except occasionally in a local 
capacity. He married the daughter of Col. Samuel 
Seymour, of this county, and went into the mercan- 
lile business in 1826. He built his Centre Build- 
ings in 1838 and '9. 

In the same year, T. G. Waterman was chosen 
Brigadier General, and Virgil Whitney and Frank- 
lin, his brother, Charles W. Palmer, and Richard 
Mather were his staff. 

In this year Oliver C. Bradford came into the 
place from Cooperstown, and established, upon com- 
ing in, his watchmaking and silversmith business, 
which he has ever since prosecuted. He opened 
his business first upon the bridge, in what was call- 
ed " the row," with a partner by the name of Brad- 
ley, who is now in Utica, and wealthy. 

In 1825, Thomas Allen became an inhabitant of 
the village, and immediately commenced the sad- 
dlery and harness making, in a building immedi- 
ately west of Collier's corner. 

In this year, also, John D. Smith became an in. 
habitant of the village. Mr. Smith built, or rather 
finished, the pleasant and tasty dwelling where he 
now lives ; and which may be considered as an ap- 
propriate representative of his property. He is a 
member of the Methodist church. 



«.^. 



BINGHAMTON. 0, 21 T 

In the year 1826, Mr. Curtiss Thorp came into 
the village, and commenced his nursery of fruit 
trees. His present nursery is about four miles 
above the village, on the west side of the Chenango. 
For about eight or nine years he has grafted, upon 
an average, about 15,000 scions, per year ; princi- 
pally of apple trees, of the most choice kinds. 

In 1828, Charles W. Sanford came from Che- 
nango county to this place, and went into the mer- 
cantile business, in company with Levi Dimmick, 
Since leaving the mercantile business he has inter- 
ested himself in the purchase of village lots, and 
has contributed his mite in encouraging foreigners 
to come in and settle. 

In the same year, Levi Dimmick came into the 
village. He went into the mercantile business, in 
company with Mr. Charles Sanford, and continued 
therein three years. Mr. Dimmick was originally 
from Connecticut. 

In this year, an act of the Legislature passed, for 
the erection of a new Court House in this place ; 
$5000 were to be raised in the county for the pur- 
pose. Ammi Doubleday, Grover Buel, and George 
Wheeler were appointed commissioners to super- 
intend the work. 

In the year 1831, Daniel S. Dickinson came into 
the village. He came here from Guilford, Chenan- 
go county ; studied law under Clark and Clapp, of 
Norwich, of that county. He has been President 
of the Board of Trustees of the village for several 
years. In 1836, he was elected member of the 
State Senate. He has distinguished himself on the 



218 M ANNALS OF 

senate floor, in almost all the great questions that 
have come before that body since he has been a 
member of it; especially the Usury Bill of 1837, 
and the Railroad Bill of 1838-9. Mr. Dickinson's 
style of public speaking is of an energetic character. 
His conceptions are clear, and his language forci- 
ble ; with a vein of wit, and sometimes sarcasm, 
running through it. 

Lewis Seymour came into the village also in 1831, 
and commenced the mercantile business in compa- 
ny with James and John Mc'Kinney on Court-st., 
first door east of the Binghamton Hotel, where Mr. 
Newton's present store is. Mr. Seymour is a son 
of Samuel Seymour, who has been mentioned as 
one of the earliest settlers of Union. He has been 
engaged in the lumbering business for 25 years. 

In this year, also, Joseph K. Rugg became a re- 
sident of the village, as a student in the law under 
Mr. Bosworth, then of this place. In the fall of 
1834, he was admitted to the Supreme Court. In 
'36 he received the appointment of Surrogate of 
Broome county, which office he still holds. He 
was admitted as counsellor at law in 1838. Mr. 
Rugg, among his younger brethren in the law, holds 
about the first place, both as counsel and as advo- 
cate. Mr. Bosworth, his preceptor, is now in the 
city of New York ; a man of talents. 

In March, of 1832, John R. Dickinson, a brother 
to Daniel S. Dickinson, became a resident of Bing- 
hamton. He was admitted to the bar of the Su- 
preme Court and in Chancery in 1838. 

Ausburn Birdsall was born in Otsego county. 



BINGHAMTON* 21 9> 

He commenced the study of the law under D. S. 
Dickinson, in Guilford, in 1831 ; came to this vil- 
lage with his preceptor in March, 1832. He was 
admitted as Attorney in the Supreme Court, and as 
Solicitor in Chancery, in 1836 ; received into part- 
nership with Mr. Dickinson, his preceptor, about 
the same time. Mr. Birdsall was honored with the 
commission of brigade Major and Inspector in 
March, 1836, which office he still holds. 

In 1832, General Vincent Whitney was elected 
member of the Legislature. In the same year he 
was elected Brigadier General of the militia. In 
1833, he was re-elected to the Legislature. 

In 1830, William Wallace Whitney, a brother to 
Gen. Vincent Whitney, and son to Gen. Joshua 
Whitney, went to the south for his health. He mar- 
ried a very rich heiress of Wilmington, Del., in 1832. 
He died in New Orleans, of the yellow fever, in 1837. 
His widow has since married Maj. Gen. Gaines, of 
the U. S. Army. 

In 1833, Laurel 0. Belden came into the village 
from Guilford. He was admitted to the bar in the 
fall of 1836. Esq. Belden, with his habits of in- 
dustry, is destined to rise in his profession. 

In the same year, Levi M. Rexford commenced 
merchandise in the druggist line. His brother was 
a partner for a short time ; a large establishment. 

In this year, also, Joseph Boughton became a re- 
sident of this village ; studied law under D. S. Dick- 
inson, and was admitted to practice in the May term 
of 1836. Mr. Boughton stands fair to excel in fines 
writing. 



220 ANNALS OF 

The year 1834 was distinguished by a great fresh- 
et. The waters of the Susquehannah made a pas- 
sage around Gen. Waterman's mills and wore a 
channel five or six feet deep, and wide enough to ad- 
mit rafts through ; adding one-fourth to the original 
width of the river. In the side of the newly formed 
bank, below the present furnace, there were found, 
in several distinct places, stone tightly laid together, 
and forming a concavity, which might have answer- 
ed, and undoubtedly did, for a pot or oven in Indian 
cookery. 

William Wentz, son of the elder Peter Wentz, 
commenced his engineering course in 1833, under 
Judge Wright, while surveying the New York and 
Erie Railroad. Mr. Wentz bids fair to distinguish 
himself as an engineer. 

In this year, Horatio and Alfred J. Evans com- 
menced their present firm in the mercantile business. 
For the two years previous, Horatio and his father 
had formed the company of this establishment. 

Dr. Stephen D. Hand came into the village in 
1835, from New Lebanon, Columbia county. He 
was born, brought up, and studied medicine in that 
place. He graduated at the Berkshire Medical In* 
stitution, and received the degree of M. D. from the 
ifeculty of Williams College, with which that institu. 
lion is connected. 

In the same year, Benjamin N. Loomis came into 
the village, and commenced the study of the lawun- 
der Mr. Rugg ; was admitted as an attorney in the 
Supreme Court in October, 1838. 

In this year, 1835, Maj. P. Mills came into the 



BlNGHAMTQN. S21 

village. He is a native of Massachusetts ; was in 
the Army of the U. S. during the last war with 
Great Britain, and engaged in most of the actions 
upon the Niagara frontier. He was reported a3 
" mortally wounded," in the action of Stoney Creek, 
Upper Canada, where he was left on the field of 
battle on the retreat of the American Army, and 
became a prisoner to the enemy. By them he was 
treated with great kindness, in consequence, as he 
believes, of a previous acquaintance with CoL Her- 
vey, of the British Army. 

In this year, 1835, also came Hamden K. Pratt 
into the village, and went immediately into partner- 
ship with his late brother, William Pratt, who was 
himself at that time a hardware merchant, and the 
first established in the place. It still continues of 
the same character, and is a large establishment. 
Mr. Pratt is now in firm with J. E. Sampson. 

In the same year, Hiram Birdsall, a brother of 
AusburnBirdsall, Esq., commenced mercantile busi- 
ness in the village. 

In 1836, Samuel Brown, Jr., in company with 
George F. Bragg, commenced mercantile business 
where they now are. The sales of this firm are 
very considerable. Mr. Brown is a nephew of the 
late Major General Brown, of the U. S. Army. 

In the same year, also, Dr. P. B. Brooks came 
into the village, and re-commenced the practice of 
medicine and surgery. D. Brooks has, during his 
medical life, practiced principally within this county. 

Samuel H. P. Hall came in 1837, and entered 
into the mercantile business very largely from the 



222 ANNALS OF 

beginning. He is a native of Middletown, Conn. 
Previously to his coming into the place he had been 
in business in Watertown, of this state. 

Uriah M. Stowers came into the village when 
quite a lad, from Towanda, and entered as clerk into 
R. Mather's store. In 1837, he entered into part- 
nership with Col. Ely, and this connection still re- 
mains. The firm do a large business. 

The firm of Whiting and Squires commenced in 
1837. 

In this year, Henry Jarvis became a resident of 
the village from Poughkeepsie, and entered, as land- 
lord, the Binghamton Hotel, which he still keeps. 

In July of this year, also, Samuel Johnson, a young 
gentleman, and artist, from the city of New York, 
came into the place, Mr. Johnson is a portrait 
painter whose genius and skill in the art will inevi- 
tably distinguish him. He was born in Washington 
county, of this state ; was inclined to drawing ob- 
jects around him and ornamental penmanship when 
a lad at school. He had taken portraits for a length 
of time before he was conversant with any artist or 
teacher, whose official instructions he found he had 
anticipated. 

In this year also, Dr. Nathan S. Davis came into 
the village, immediately, or soon after, taking license. 
Dr. Davis is from Chenango county, where he 
studied medicine under Dr. Clark. He attended 
three courses of lectures at the Fairfield Medical 
Institution of Herkimer county, from which he re- 
ceived the degree of M. D. 

In August, 1838, Mayhew McDonald came into 



BINGHAMTON. 223 

the village and commenced the practice of law. He 
is from Otsego county ; studied law in Delhi, of 
Delaware county, under Charles Hathaway, a weal- 
thy and talented lawyer of that place. He was ad- 
mitted to the Supreme Court as attorney at law and 
Solicitor in Chancery, in January term of 1839. 

In the same year Dr. Edwin Eldridge became a 
resident of the village. Dr. Eldridge grew up upon 
the banks of the Hudson. After previous studies, 
he entered the Medical Institution of New- York, 
where he attended two courses of lectures. He af- 
terward attended one course at the Institution of 
Fairfield. He afterward attended two sessions at 
the Hospital and Eye Infirmary of New- York. It 
appears that Dr. Eldridge's medical opportunities 
have been of the first order. 

In the spring of 1838, Lorenzo Seymour moved 
into the village and took charge of the Broome Coun- 
ty House ; and had been the landlord of it but a 
short time previous to the great fire, in which this 
building was consumed. He is now landlord of tlx- 
Phenix Hotel. 

In this year, 1838, on Tuesday night, June 19tli, 
occurred, in the village, one of the most destructive 
iires ever known in this section of country. It com- 
menced in a tin and sheet-iron manufactory belong- 
ing to H. & A. J. Evans, standing in the rear of 
the corner or Eagle Buildings ; and when but a few 
of the inhabitants had collected, the flames had 
spread to the rear of the buildings adjacent on Court 
and Franklin-streets. In about forty minutes the 
buildings on these two streets belonging to the block, 



224 ANNALS OF 

with one or two exceptions, were wrapped in one 
entire flame. Tlie loss that was sustained^ with 
the impression left upon the minds of the villagers, 
will be sufficient to record it, with most of its details, 
for many years to come. 



CHAPTER XVI. 

We shall now speak more particulary of the 
public institutions of the place. 

There was a Postoffice established as early as 
1795 or '6, and Joshua Whitney was the first Post- 
master. It was established through his agency," 
and he contracted for the transportation of the mail 
from Catskill to this place. He kept the office at 
his own dwelling, and continued in office until about 
1800, when it was transferred to Oringh Stoddard, 
and kept at Union. In 1802, it passed to the trust 
of William Woodruff, Esq. who was the first Post- 
master in the village. He held the office for about 
six years, and located it in the tavern-house which 
stood where Bragg's store now does; and of which 
he was the landlord. Judge Robert Monell suc- 
ceeded Mr. Woodruff, and held the office two years. 
It was now removed to Water-street, and kept in the 
Stuart house, where also Judge Monell had his law 
office. He removed both these offices to a room in 
the Keeler tavern-house, where he was at the time 
boarding ; kept then by Judge McKinney. 

The next in order of Postmasters was Judge 
McKinney, who kept the office where it was already 



BINGHAMTOIi. 225 

located. In consequence of Mr. McKinney's nJoving? 
upon his farm at some distance from the village, he 
left the office in charge of a deputy until the appoint- 
ment of another Postmaster, His successor was 
Esq. Woodruff again. He kept the office in an 
upper room of the toll-house ; he afterward remo- 
ved it to where Mr. Rexford's druggist store now- 
is ; the same building, same room. In about the 
year 1813 or '14, Judge McKinneywas re-appoint- 
ed. He placed the office in Zenas Pratt's store,- 
who kept where the Phenix Hotel is j^ in a part of 
the building that was burnt down. In 1817, the 
office was transferred to Zenas Pratt, who kept it' 
in his own dwelling house. In 1821, John C. Swain- 
succeeded Mr. Pratt, and kept the office in his store, 
which stood at the foot of Court-street, In 1823/ 
Virgil ¥/hitney received the appointment of the of- 
fice. He held it for ten years, and is said to have 
been a faithful and assiduous officer in the depart- 
ment. To Mr. Whitney succeeded, in 1833, Dr. 
Robinson, who is the present Postmaster, Dr. R, - 
at first kept the office in the southern portion of^. 
Mr. Jarvis' tavern-house. • At the completion of 
the Exchange Buildings he moved the office to those- 
buildings ; and the past summer or autumn he again- 
removed it to one part of the Phenix house ; un- 
doubtedly for the greater conveniency of the maih 
stage. 

The mail was carried at first, and for manyyears' 
afterward, on horseback* It was carried through - 
from Catskill to Elmira once a fortnight; and one 

Charles Stone rode post for several years. In 1810,^ 
15 



i 



22§ ANNALS OF 

there was a mail from the east and west, and from 
the north once a week, but still on horseback. The 
avails at this time to the Postmaster was about sixty 
dollars a year. There are now, in arrivals and 
dismissals, eight mails per day ; and two days in 
the week, ten mails. The nett avails to the Govern- 
ment is about $1800 per year. 

The county of Broome was set off from Tioga, 
and organized on the 13th of May, 1806. The 
officers first appointed to preside at its courts and 
over its judicial concerns were Gen. John Patter- 
son, of Lisle, as first judge, and James Stoddard, 
of Lisle, Amos Patterson, of Union, and Daniel 
Hudson, of Chenango, as associate judges. In 
1807, George Harpur, of Windsor, and Mason 
Wattles, of the same place, were added. 

At the expiration of three years, in May, 1809, 
James Stoddard, Amos Patterson, and Mason Wat- 
tles, were re-appointed ; and in June, Daniel Hud- 
son was appointed first judge in place of Gen. Pat- 
terson ; and in September, James Stoddard was ap. 
pointed in place of Mr. Hudson, who, it is believed, 
vacated his office by moving out of the county. In 
October, John Brown, of Berkshire, was added to 
the number of associate judges. 

Under the old constitution of the State there was 
no specific limitation to the number of ordinary or 
associate judges. They held their office for three 
years, and then were re-appointed or displaced ; but 
the ^r5i judge held his office during fife or good be- 
haviour ; unless, during his office, he transcended 
the age of sixty years. 



-BINGHAMTON. 227 

In 1810, George Harpur was re-appointed ; and 
in 1811, in March, Stephen Mack, of Owego, was 
appointed first judge in place of judge Stoddard. In 
May, of the same year, Jacob McKinney, of this 
village, was appointed associate judge ; and in 
June, Amos Patterson and John Brown were re- 
appointed. 

In 1812, William Chamberlain was appointed, 
and Mason Wattles re-appointed; and in June, 
Samuel Rexford and James Stoddard, 

In 1813, March, Tracy Robinson, of this village, 
Asa Beach, of Lisle, Chester Lusk, of Union, Jo- 
seph Waldo, of Berkshire, George Harpur — ap- 
pointed the third time — Daniel Le Roy, of the vil- 
lage, and William Camp, of Owego. At this time 
Owego was a part of Broome county. 

In 1815, Briant, Stoddard, of Union, was ap- 
pointed to a seat on the bench ; also, Jonathan 
Lewis, of Lisle, Mason Wattles — appointed the third 
time^ — and David Williams ; and John R. Drake 
was appointed first judge in place of judge Mack. 

In 1817, William Stuart, of Binghamton, and 
Anson Camp were appointed. 

In 1818, Jonathan Lewis re-appointed — William 
Stuart still on the bench — and Briant Stoddard re- 
appointed. 

In 1821, Briant Stoddard re-appointed, Thomas 
■ Blakslee, David Williams, re-appointed, and Jona- 
than Lewis. In 1822, David Bartow. 

In 1823, the new constitution was adopted. In 
the same year, under the new constitution, Tracy 
Robinson was appointed first judge ; and with him 



228' ANNALS OF 

were appointed four associate judges, viz : Natha- 
niel Bosworth, Briant Stoddard, Thomas Blakslee^i 
and David Bartow. 

Under the new constitution, the number of judges^ 
was Hmited to five, including the fi_rst judge ; all oF 
whom,, without distinction, to hold their office for 
five years ; removable, however, on recommenda- 
tion of the Governor and consent of the Senate, 
whenever the former assigned a sufficient cause. 

In 1827, at the termination of five years, the-' 
same judges were re-appointed, with the exception 
of Ohver Stiles, in place of Nathaniel Bosworth. 

In 1832, Thomas G. Waterman, in place of O- 
Stiles. 

In 1833, William Seymour was appointed first 
judge, and Dr. Robinson, of Vestal, succeeded by^ 
Briant Stoddard in 1834 ; George Wheeler, Grover 
Buel, and Judson Allen were appointed associate 
judges. 

In 1838, a new commission was issued, and the 
same judges were re-appointed. These constitute- 
the present bench of judges. 

The first cause tried under the authority of the 
county of Broome,, was between Amraphael Hotch- 
kiss and Nathan Lane,jun., a civilsuit. The first 
criminal cause was the people against Ebenezer 
Centre. 

At the organization of the county, Ashbel Wells 
was appointed Clerk, and moved to this village from. 
Owego. He died about the expiration of his term.. 
His successors have been William Woodruff,. Jacob:. 
McKinney> William Woodruff" again. Mason Wat^ 



BINGHAMTON. 229 

des, of Owego, Ammi Doubleday in 1817, Latham 
A. Burrows, Daniel Evans, the first Clerk under the 
-new constitution, and Barzillai Marvin, the present 
€lerk. 

Under the old constitution the Clerks were ap- 
pointed, not chosen as at present, for the term of 
three years. 

William Woodruff was the first Sheriff of the 
<;ounty, and Jacob McKinney his successor. Their 
successors have been Chester Patterson, of Union, 
Thomas Whitney, of Triangle, Oliver Huntington, 
of Owego, William Chamberlain, of Binghamton, 
1817, Joseph M. Patterson, and Maj. Noah Shaw. 
Under the new constitution, Benjamin B. Nichols, 
of Windsor, Jesse Hinds, of this village, James 
Stoddard, jun. of Lisle, Robert O. Edwards, of 
.Barker, and Robert Harpur, of Colesville, who is 
the present Sheriff. 

The space occupied in the list of officers that have 
presided over the courts, and have transacted the 
public and specific business of the county, is brief; 
but still, during their official course, more than an 
age has passed away. Talents and moral honesty 
have been in requisition for the proper discharge of 
their duties. They have been the mental and phy- 
sical organs of the law. They have adjusted the 
conflicting interest of parties. They have awarded 
to delinquents and transgressors the retributions of 
justice, and have kept the archives of the great 
commercial transactions of community. 

The first printer of the village was Chauncey 
Morgan, an elder brother of Augustus Morgan of 



230 ANNALS OF 

m 

this place. He commenced the operation of his 
press in about 1811, in an upper room of the present 
building of Mr. Rexford's druggist store. In the 
commencement he issued a newspaper — the first 
printed in the county of Broome — called " The 
Broome County Patriot." There had a paper cir- 
culated here, which was first printed in old Chenan- 
go, and afterward in Owego, called " The Ameri- 
can Farmer." While issuing from the former 
place, it was conducted by Daniel Crugar ; and 
while from the latter, it was conducted by Stephen 
Mack, afterward Judge of the county. The paper 
and press passed through the hands of Reuben S. 
Close and Dr. Ely to those of Dr. Robinson, who, 
in 1815, enlarged the paper and issued it under a 
new name: that of the Phoenix. 

Dr. Robinson continued the conducting of th€ 
paper and the operation of the press for three years, 
during two of which his son-in-law, Maj. Morgan, 
was associated with him as partner. 

In 1818, the Dr. sold his interest in the press and 
paper to Anson M. Howard, and Mr. Morgan con- 
tinued now a partner to Mr. Howard. 

In this same year, Abraham Burrell started a pa- 
per called " The Republican Herald," espousing the 
side of politics opposed to those of the Phoenix, 
which latter was Clintonian. In about 1820, Do- 
rephus Abbey purchased Mr. Burrell's interest, and 
conducted the paper and press in his own name. 
Abbey, after some few years sold the paper and 
' press to a few individuals of the place, who employ. 



BINGHAMTOl^. 231 

ed Burfell as the editor and printer ; and the paper 
was conducted in his name. 

Mr. Abbey met with a tragical end ; the last 
spring, 1839, he was hung in Kingston, U. C. for 
his participation with the patriots in the Canada 
war. 

Mr. Howard, the partner with Major Morgan, 
after a few years failed, and the Phoenix, in conse- 
quence, was no longer issued ; but in 1823, Major 
Morgan purchased a new press and issued a new 
paper called " The Broome County Republican." 
It is the same in continuance that bears that name 
now. After this paper got into circulation, it pro- 
ved to be the more popular paper. The Herald 
gradually declined, and, while in the hands of Mr. 
Burrell the last time, became extinct. 

In 1824, Mr. Abiel C. Canoll came into partner- 
ship with Mr. Morgan, and this connection remain- 
ed until 1828, when Mr. Morgan sold his propri- 
etorship to Mr. Thomas Collier, who had lately 
taken up his residence in the village with his sons. 

Mr. Collier and Mr. Canoll continued their edito- 
rial relation until 1830, when the former sold to 
Mr. Edwin T. Evans. This connection continued 
until 1835, when Mr. Evans sold his share in the 
business to Mr. B. T. Cooke. Messrs. Canoll and 
Cooke continued partners until last July, 1839, when 
Mr. Canoll dissolved his connection and interest, 
and sold to Mr. J.J. Davis. Under this new edito- 
rial relation the paper and press are at present con- 
ducted. 

In 1831, Mr. J. R. Orton established a press and 



232 ANNALS OF 

issued a paper under the name of " The Broome 
County Courier ;" in poUtics espousing the side of 
the national administration. In 1837, Mr. Orton 
sold his press and interest in the paper to Messrs. 
Sheldon and Marble. These last continued the pro- 
prietors until the spring of 1838, when Mr. Marble 
sold his interest in the establishment to his partner 
Mr. Sheldon ; and this latter gentleman continued 
the proprietor but a short time. The great fire 
which occurred early in the summer of that year, 
consumed the press and its appurtenances, and Mr. 
Sheldon was obliged to relinquish his connection 
with it. In the course of the summer Mr. E. P. 
Marble returned from Sherburne, Chenango county, 
and brought with him a press from that place. The 
Courier was resumed by Mr. Marble, and issued 
immediately. After a few months his brother, J. W. 
Marble, who had formed a partnership in the opera- 
tion of the press from the time of its re-establish- 
ment, came into the place and joined in person. In 
the following spring, 1839, another change took 
place. E. P. Marble relinquished his connection 
with the press, and sold his right to Mr. Thomas 
Johnson. It is now in the hands of J. and C. 
Orton. 

The present proprietors of the Bridge at the vil- 
lage that lies across the Chenango river, called here 
the Red Bridge, are Gilbert Tompkins, the heirs 
of his deceased brother Isaac Tompkins, Lloyd S. 
Daubany, of Connecticut, and Garrit Storm, of the 
city of New-York. This bridge was re-built in 
1825, by Col. H. Lewis as master builder, at anex- 



BINGHAMTON. '233 

p&'nse of rising $3000, and under the general direc- 
tion of Joshua Whitney. The revenue arising from 
the bridge at present, and for some few years back, 
though large, is not so great as in former years, 
/when land carriage wag the only mode of transport- 
ing commodities into the place. 

A former bridge existed upon the same abutments 
that the present does, with the exception of a wood- 
men causeway at the east end, which extended until 
it met the ground of its own level. In place of this 
causeway there now exists the present wide em- 
bankment. This former bridge was built in 1808, 
by Marshal Lewis and Luther Thurstin, at an ex- 
pense of rising $6000. Why there should have 
been so much difference in the expense of the two 
hridges, does not appear. To the enterprize, per- 
severance, and pecuniary resurces of Lucas Elmen- 
dorf, of Kingston, Ulster county, is to be ascribed 
the erection of this first bridge at so early a day. 

The present bridge, which is of the same length, 
breadth, and height as the former, is 30 feet high, 
25 feet wide, and 600 feet long. 

The bridge at the village across the Susquehan- 
nah, called familiarly the White Bridge, was built 
in 1825 and '6, by Col. H. Lewis, at an expense of 
$6,200. The act of the Legislature authorizing the 
building of this bridge was passed April, 1825, and 
the property of it vested in Christopher Eldredge 
and John A. Collier, their heirs and assigns. These 
gentlemen divided the presumptive expense of the 
bridge into shares. These shares were purchased 
by the following persons : EUhu Ely, Hazard Lew- 



234 ANNALS OF 

is, Gilbert Tompkins, Myron Merrill, Lewis St, 
John, Martin Hawley, and Julius Page. These^ 
with Messrs. Eldredge and Collier, were, by ano- 
ther act of the Legislature, constituted a body cor- 
porate, under the name of " The Susquehannah 
Bridge Company of the Village of Binghamton." 
Under the direction and at the expense of this com- 
pany the bridge was built. 

In the springof 1837, while an uncommonly high 
freshet was prevailing, and rendered more powerful 
by a suddenly breaking away of accumulated ice, 
about one half of the bridge was carried away. 

This bridge is 700 feet long, 25 feet wide, and 
from 25 to 28 feet high. 

The Chenango canal, which terminates at Bing- 
hamton and Utica, is ninety-five miles in length, 
forty-six feet wide, and four and a half feet deep. It 
is laid in the valley of the Chenango river, on the 
eastern side, with the exception of about eighteen or 
twenty miles of the northern extremity, which fol- 
lows the vale of the Sauquoit creek. 

The number of locks on the whole route is 105 ; 
forming an elevation above the water, at the mouth 
of the river, of 303 feet. It was constructed in the 
years 1834, '5 and '6, at an expense of nearly two 
millions of dollars. 

The chief engineer who was employed in survey- 
ing the route, and in superintending the construc- 
tion, was William Jarvis. Isaac W. Crane had 
charge under the general supervision of Mr. Jarvis, 
of the southern section, from Binghamton to the 
Forks. The act of the Legislature which authori* 



BINGHAMTON.^ 235^ 

zed and assumed the construction of the canal was 
passed in 1833. Judge Lynde, of Chenango county^ 
presented the bill for its construction to the Senate, 
and was himself its most able abettor. Like many 
bills which prove in the experiment of gi'eat public 
utihty, it had a tedious and strenuously opposed 
course in its passage through the two houses of the 
Legislature. 

There are two Banks in the county of Broome, 
located in this village. One,, the Broome County 
Bank, which has been in operation since the year 
1831 ; its capital is f 100,000, with the permission 
to extend its issues to once and a half that amount. 

The fii'st President of this bank was Myron Mer- 
rill; and Cary Murdock,- its present cashier, was 
also its first ; Daniel S. Dickinson was its first and 
is still its Attorney. Its operations are under the 
superintendence of thirteen directors. The safety 
of the bank rests upon the safety fund and the cor- 
rectness of its own transactions ; to which there has 
at no time been any exceptions. Its resources have 
always been equal to its exigencies, even during 
the great pressure of 1837. 

The banking house was erected in 1832; is ele- 
gantly built of brick, fifty feet by forty, and the walls 
thirty-four feet high, standing on court hill, corner 
of Court and Chenango-streets, and opposite the 
court-house ; having the advantage of the pleasant 
elevation of court hill. 

The other is the Binghamton Bank, which has 
only the present year, 1839, commenced its opera- 
tions. It is constituted according to the late State 



S36 'ANNALS OF 

^provision made for voluntary bank associations. It 
has a capital of $100,000, with the privilege of ex- 
.tending it to the high amount of one million. 

The officers of this bank are, Jehn La Grange, of 
•Vestal, President ; and Calvin L. Cole, Cashier ; 
the present Directors are John La Grange, Calvin 
.L. Cole, Dwight Danforth, and Samuel Brown. 

The first public stage that ran through this vil- 
Jage was established by Teter and Huntington, in 
the year 1816 or '17 ; and ran from Owego to New- 
burgh ; Teter drove himself, a two horse stage, and 
drove entirely through to Newburgh ; a weekly line. 
He was of Wyoming, and commenced this line of 
business first by running a stage from Wyoming to 
Tioga Point. About one year after commencing 
the Owego and Newburgh line, Mr. Teter exchan- 
ged his first partner, Mr. Huntington, for Miller 
Horton, of Wilksbarre. 

In about 1818, a company was formed, consist- 
ing of several proprietors, with Mr. Phelps, ofLud- 
lowville, at their head, who obtained a mail contract ' 
and commenced running a line of stages upon the 
same route of Teter and Horton, but made Ithaca 
■their western termination instead of Owego ; and 
ran three times a week. In 1819, Dr. Robinson 
and Maj. A. Morgan became proprietors in the com- 
pany. 

In 1822, the same company, but with additional 
proprietors, established a daily line upon the route, 
and extended the same to Geneva. 

The first post coach that ever ran through this 
;pJace was purchased by Robinson and Morgan. Il 



V- 



BINGHAMTON. 23T 

was the second vehicle of the kind on the route;; 
made after the same form of the present post coach- 
es, with the exception of one door to enter at, in-^ 
stead of two. 

In about 1818 or '19, a stage wagon, with two 
horses, commenced running from Oxford to this- 
place once a week, by Mr. Willoughby, of Oxford ; 
it soon commenced running twice a week. In 1821 
George Munseli took the proprietorship and ran the 
stage twice a week, driving himself.. In 1825, he 
put on a post coach and four horses, and has con- 
tinued the principal if not sole proprietor of this part, 
of^the Utica line since. 

In the year 1828, a two horse stage commenced' 
running from Montrose to this place, under the pro-, 
prietorship of John McPher3on;,,a young man of the- 
former place, and performing one trip a week. It 
is the same that now runs daily. Mr. Searle soon, 
purchased McPherson's right, and is the present: 
proprietor. 

The village of Binghamton was incorporated by 
an act of the Legislature on the third day of May,. 
1834, By this act the corporate limits of the vil- 
lage were fixed, and the village itself divided into 
five wards. The first ward was to embrace all 
that part: of the village which lies west of the Che- 
nango river. The second ward to embrace all that 
part lying east of the Chenango river, south of the 
centre of Court-street, and west of the centre of 
Centre-street. The third ward, all that part lying, 
north of the centre of Court-street east of the Che=. 
aango river, and west of the centre of Chenango-. 



238 ANNALS OF 

Street. The fourth ward, all that part lying east 
of the Chenango river, north of the centre of Court- 
street, and east of the centre of Chenango-street. 
The fifth ward, to embrace all the residue of the vil- 
lage lyii^ south of the centre of Court-street, and 
east of the centre of Centre-street. 

On the first Tuesday in June, 1834, agreeably to 
a provision of the act, the inhabitants of the village 
met in their respective wards and chose the follow- 
ing persons as Trustees, viz : Samuel Peterson, as 
trustee of the first ward ; George Park, of the sec- 
ond ward ; Stephen Weed, of the third ward ; Will- 
iam Seymour of the fourth ward ; and William B. 
Doubleday, of the fifth ward. These five, with their 
successors, clothed with powers specified in the 
same act which provided for their creation, were to 
form a jpeirpetual Board of Trustees for the govern- 
ment of the village, in every thing pertaining to its 
public peace, its safety, its convenience, and its im- 
provement. 

On the fourth day of June, at the first meeting of 
this Board, the following persons were appointed its 
officers : Daniel S. Dickinson, President of the 
Board ; Erasmus D. Robinson, Clerk ; Joseph S. 
Bosworth, Attorney ; Julius Page, Treasurer ; and 
Joseph Bartlett, Police Constable and Collector. 
Five Fire Wardens were also appointed ; Myron 
Merrill, of the first ward ; George T. Ray, of the 
second ward ; Levi Dimmick, of the third ward ; 
Cary Murdock, of the fourth ward ; and Isaac Leav- 
enworth, of the fifth ward. 

At the same meeting, a committee was appointed 



BINGHAMTON. 239 

to draft a code of by-laws for their internal regula- 
tion. The Board proceeded, the same month it ap- 
pears, to pass the resolution for forming two fire 
companies, to be called the hook and ladder compa- 
nies. It should be recorded again and again, for 
the honor of that great man, that Dr. Franklin was 
the author of fire companies. 

In June, 1836, a petition was presented, signed by 
ninety-one citizens, requesting the Board to raise 
the sum of six hundred dollars, for the purpose of 
purchasing a fire engine. A petition at the same 
time was presented, signed by sixteen persons, pray- 
ing to be formed into a fire company. The signers 
of this petition were William H. Pratt, Henry M. 
Collier, James Eldredge, George Congdon, James 
Smead, A. W. Martin, Peter Clew, Isaac Bartlett, 
Caleb Roberts, James Bigler, William Bigler, John 
Scofield, Isaac Bishop, Thomas Johnson, J. P. Sut- 
ton, and D. Horton. These young men formed the 
first fire company of the village, and deserve the 
greater honor for having offered themselves. 

The Board proceeded also with dexterity to level 
and otherwise improve the streets, to flag the side 
walks, and to remove nuisances. 

Upon the first of August, 1837, the following per- 
sons, upon addressing a petition to the Board to be 
formed into a second fire company, were accord, 
ingly organized : Charles L. Robinson, James H. 
Halstead, Evans M. Johnson, John H. H. Park, 
Albert C. Morgan, Russel B. Tripp, Charles Ro- 
gers, Jacob Morris, jun., John McNeil, Thomas G. 
Halstead, Frederick A. Morgan, Charles Tupper, 



240 ANNALS OF ■ 

Charles Cole, William Castle, George Dyer, and* 
William Abbott. These young men, being the 
most, if not all, of them, in their minority, were 
called " The Juvenile Fire Company." 

These two companies may be considered the 
corporate, though youthful, fathers of future compa=^- 
nies, which will be found, in years to come,, in the. 
midnight hour, amid roaring flames and falling 
buildings, plying their engines to stay the destruc-- 
tion, and finally to quench the rage and madness of 
the fire. 

The county of Broome and its immediate neigh- 
borhood, contains but little to interest, particularly,, 
the geologist ; so little that the gentlemen employed 
in the late geological and mineralogical survey that 
has been made of the State, in their report to the Le- 
gislature, pass the county hy, almost in silence. The 
principal rock, says a geologist, well acquainted 
with this section of country, in the county is gray. 
wack, which is found in all our hills, and forms the 
basis of the mountains. It is found, also in the beds 
of the largest streams. This may be said indeed 
to be the only stone found in the county. It is 
found lying in stratas, nearly in a horizontal posi=- 
tion, with, however, a slight inclination to the west. 
This incHnation exists even in the beds of the rivers. . 
Near the surface, upon the mountains, it is found 
broken up into fragments ; which is the result either: 
of frost or of ancient internal irruptions. 

But the pebbles found in and near the banks of the 
Susquehannah and Chenango rivers, however, ex- 
liibit an astonishing variety : garnet, tourmahne, 



BINGHAMTON. 241 

quartz, agate, hornstone, porphyry, granite, jasper, 
feldspar, hornblend, dark blue limestone, and con. 
glomerates, of almost every character, are occasion- 
ally picked up and added to the cabinet of the natu. 
ralist. Negatively speaking, we have no gypsum, 
no limestone, no iron or other mineral. A brine 
spring exists in Lisle, on the lands of Christopher 
Eldredge. 



CHAPTER XVII. 



The present Presbyterian Church of Binghamton 
was originally Congregational in its form of govern- 
ment, and was organized in the year 1817. The 
organization took place in the early part of the mi- 
nistration of Mr. Niles. This clerical gentleman 
came from New Lebanon ; was unordained until 
1818, and labored until ordained as a stated supply. 
With about a year's interval, and previous to Mr. 
Niles' ministry here, a Mr. May, an ordained min- 
ister, was employed by the Presbyterian interest. 
Before this gentleman, no Presbyterian minister sta- 
tedly preached in the village. The only periodical 
preaching in the vicinity, previous to this, was from 
tlie Dutch Reformed Church, whose minister, Mr. 
Palmer, after about 1810, preached alternately in 
the court house in the village and at Union. But 
Tery little religious influence was either exerted or 
felt in the place, except what might have been felt 
from a few solitary examples of piety, from the ex- 

istence of the sacred volume in families, and from 
16 



242 ANNALS OF 

the conscience of men whose early education had 
been christian, until Mr. May, or more properly, it 
should be stated, until Mr. Niles appeared in the vil- 
lage. He was a man whose life was irreproacha- 
ble. His preaching, too, though characterized with 
only ordinary talent, was such as leaves men not 
easv in a sinful course. 

Mr. Niles came in the spring of 1816, and after 
one year's labor, a revival and reformation of con- 
siderable extent was the result. This paved the 
way and furnished members for the organization of 
the church. At this organization, the Rev. Ebene- 
zer Kingsbury, of Hartford, Pa., and the Rev. Jo- 
seph Wood, of Windsor, were the officiating min- 
isters ; and the church, in its first constitution, con- 
sisted of twenty members — three males, viz : Jesse 
Hinds, sen., Jonathan Ogden, and John McKinney ; 
the rest were females. The most of these latter 
were ladies of families ; and their names — as they 
were original members, and as the position in which 
it placed them in their families was responsible,— it 
may be proper to record. The persons were, Mrs. 
Whiting, Mrs. Pratt, Mrs. Morse, Mrs. Woodruff, 
the wife of Esq. Woodruff, a Mrs. Sedgwick, Mrs. 
Weed, a Mrs. Whitmore, Mrs. Hinds, Mrs. Eh^ 
the wife of Col. Ely, Mrs. Smith, Miss Hannah 
Whitney, now the wife of Deacon Stow, Mrs. Og- 
den, Mrs. Vandewater, and Mrs. Edwards. 

The officers of the church were two Deacons : 
Samuel Stow and John McKinney. Deacon Stow 
had moved into the place subsequent to the forma- 
tion of the church. Mr. Niles was ordained and 



BINOHAMTON. 243 

installed pastor of the church in 1818. In the same 
year the first Sabbath School of the place was insti- 
tuted by the female members of this church. About 
this time also, the form of the government of the 
church was changed from Congregational to Pres- 
byterian ; which latter form it has retained ever 
since. Under the Presbyterian form, which re- 
quires ruling elders, those who first filled this office 
were Deacon Samuel Stow, Deacon West, now an 
officer in the church at Castle Creek, and John 
McKinney. The two latter sustained also the of- 
fice of Deacons. 

There were additions made to this society almost 
at every communion season, both from emigrants 
who had been members in churches whence they 
emigrated, and from persons becoming hopefully 
pious, of the place. The church, under the super- 
intendence of their pastor, maintained for a series of 
years what they called a church meeting, designed 
exclusively for church members ; held as often aff 
their communion season occurred, but halfway be- 
tween those seasons. These meetings, the older 
members say, were the most precious and valuable 
to them of all others ; undoubtedly because there 
was more confidential interchange of christian sen- 
timent and feeling, and therefore more of that which 
in scripture is denominated "communion of spirits." 
In the year 1827, and towards the close of Mr. 
Niles' ministry, as well as that of his life, a very ge- 
neral revival took place in the village, which, though 
chiefly in the Presbyterian society, extended to the 
other christian societies. 



244t ANNALS OF 

In this year, the Rev. Peter Lockwood, after- 
ward sole pastor of the congregation, was called as 
junior pastor, to assist Mr. Niles ; whose health was 
now declining. 

The death of Mr. Niles, which had been looked 
upon as evidently fast approaching, took place in 
July, 1828, and was met by him with calmness, in 
clear anticipation of entering upon " that rest which 
remains for the people of God." 

Mr. Lockwood now became the sole pastor, and 
continued his pastoral relation until April, 1833. 
During Mr. Lockwood's ministry there were very 
large accessions made to the church — scarcely a 
communion season passing without some entering 
on the profession of their new and living faith, with- 
in its pale. 

After the period of Mr. Lockwood's ministry, 
the church was without a settled and pastoral care 
until 1836. In the interval, however, it had the 
ministerial labours for an indefinite time of the Rev. 
Lewis D. Howell, and of the Rev. John Fowler, now 
of Utica 

In 1836, the Rev. John A. Nash was called to 
the pastoral charge. His parochial relation, how- 
ever, was of comparatively short duration, only 
about two years. His talents as a sermonizer were 
much above mediocrity. 

In September, 1828, the Rev. David D. Gregory, 
formerly pastor of the church in Westfield, of this 
state, became the pastor of this church. Mr. Greg- 
ory is a graduate of William's College, Mass., and 
gtudied theology at Andover. Mr. Gregory's preach- 



BINGHAMTON. 245 

ing is well calculated to luild up christians, and also 
to invite sinners to the Saviour of mankind. 

The Presbyterian church edifice was finished and 
dedicated in December, 1819, or the January fol- 
lowing. Jonathan Ogden was the architect ; and 
his mother the first person buried in the ground 
opened near this edifice for the reception of the dead. 

The Episcopal Church ofBinghamton was incor- 
porated in the year 1816. Samuel McNeil and 
Selah Squires were chosen the Church Wardens ; 
and Elias B. Miller, Lewis Squires, Mason Whiting, 
Tracy Robinson, John A. Collier, Thomas G. Wa- 
terman, John Stone, and Rufus Park, were chosen 
Vestrymen. • 

The principal men, with their families, that com- 
posed the church, in its earliest existence, were 
Joshua Whitney, Selah Squires, Samuel McNeil, 
Thomas G. Waterman, Tracy Robinson, Rufus 
Park, William Chamberlain, Elias Butler, Mason 
Whiting, John A. Collier, Lewis Squires, Gilbert 
Tompkins, John Stone, James Squires, Peter Crissy, 
Christopher Eldredge, and Elmore Gilbert. 

The Rev. Mr. Keeler, at present the rector of 
the church in Harpursville, was the first officiating^ 
clergyman. He was hired only for six months. 
Mr. Keeler, who had but lately taken Deacon's or- 
ders, was from the diocess of Connecticut, and was 
in company with Bishop Hobart at the time the 
Bishop constituted the church and consecrated their 
house of worship. This house was built originally 
for an academy ; but while in a state of finishing, it 
was purchased by the Episcopal society, and finish- 



246 ANNALS OP 

ed in a suitable style for divine worship. It was 
afterward sold to the Methodist society ; and their 
present edifice was built in 1821 and '2, at an ex- 
pense, with its decorations, of about $3500, by H. 
T. McGeorge, the principal architect. 

In the burying ground attached to this church, 
the first person interred was a Mrs. Birdsall, the 
wife of a lawyer, and a sister of John A. Collier's 
first wife, and sister also to the present wife of 
Thomas Evans. 

The successor of Mr. Keeler was the Rev. Fran- 
cis H. Gumming, a young man at the time, and 
lately in Deacon's orders, from the diocess of New 
Jersey. Mr. Gumming was passing through the 
place and accidentally became known to Dr. Rob- 
inson, as an Episcopal clergyman, and without 
charge. He was immediately engaged to take 
charge of the congregation. He is represented even 
at this early period of his ministerial life, to have 
possessed an easy, natural, and engaging eloquence. 
He remained the officiating clergyman until 1821, 
when the Rev. Mr. Gear, of Onondaga county, was 
invited to take the rectorship of the parish. Mr. 
Gear is spoken of as a man of more than ordinary 
learning and talents, and his Uhlical knowledge is 
represented as having been profound and extensive. 

In 1824, Mr. Gear's parochial charge in this 
place terminated, and the Rev. Nathaniel Huse was 
called from Oneida county to succeed him. In 
1827, and during the ministry of Mr. Huse, there 
was a greater addition made to those members who 
take upon them all the responsibilities of christians^ 



BINGHAMTON. 247 

and enter into full communion with the church, than 
at any other one period. These, in the judgment 
of charity, had experienced what is denominated a 
'* change of heart," and were a part of the fruits of 
a general revival in that year. 

In the year 1829, Mr, Gumming was recalled, 
and took the rectorship. Mr. Gumming, at the 
time he was called, was rector of the Episcopal 
church in Rochester. Eight or ten years having 
elapsed since he was here before, Mr. Gumming's 
piety and christian experience had become deepen- 
ed, and his preaching was now more practical and 
evangelical ; but his stay was only short ; between 
one and two years. 

In 1830, the bell was put into the church, weigh- 
ing700 1bs. 

In the year 1831, the Vestry gave an invitation to 
the Rev. Hiram Adams, then settled over a church 
in Brownsville, Jefferson county, to become their 
pastor. This invitation was accepted, and he be- 
came their spiritual shepherd for four or five years. 
Mr. Adams is represented also as a man of talent 
and learning. 

In 1835, Mr. Adams terminated his rectorship 
here, and in July, of the same year, the Vestry re- 
solved to invite the Rev. Mr. Shimeall, of Ganan- 
daigua, to be their rector. His stay was short ; 
scant a year. He, in the time, painted the curtains 
of the church. He is distinguished as the author 
of a very large and learned biblical chart. 

Mr. Shimeall's resignation took place in May, 
1836 ; and the last of June, the Vestry resolved to 



248 ANNALS OP 

invite the Rev. Edward Andrews to their rectorship. 
This invitation was accepted, and Mr. Andrews is 
now the present rector. Mr. Andrews, possessing 
talents which place him quite among the first class 
of preachers, has great popularity and acceptableness 
among his people ; and his discretion and affection- 
ate manners endear him to all who have the happi- 
ness to be much in his society. 

There was no Methodist society formed in the 
village of Binghamton or its vicinity until the year 
1817, when a class, consisting of five persons, was 
organized. Mr. Joseph Manning, his wife and 
daughter, Mr. Peter Wentz, and his wife, were the 
five persons. Previous to the formation of this 
class, and that which led to it, Mr. Manning, who 
was previously a member of the Methodist church, 
went to Union and solicited the service of a preach- 
er by the name of Doolittle, a circuit preacher. Mr, 
Doolittle came and held his first meeting at Mr. 
Manning's house, who lived then at the west end of 
the Chenango bridge, and on the south side of Main- 
street. At this meeting the class was formed, and 
Mr. Manning was appointed class leader. Preach- 
ing continued after this statedly, on a week day, 
once in two weeks ; and the meetings were held, 
first at Mr. Manning's house for a length of time, 
then at the district school house in the village ; after 
which they were moved and held in the court house, 
until they worshipped in their present chapel. 

A Mr. Arnold succeeded Mr. Doolittle on the 
circuit and was the particular onCi of the two on the 
circuit, that preached in the village. There were. 



BINGHAMTON. 249 

however, no additions made to the society for years, 
except those who joined by letters of recommenda- 
tion. Even their ministers appeared to take but a 
partial interest in the Methodist cause here — most 
likely for want of more encouraging prospects — un- 
til a Mr. Warner came in 1822, under whose min- 
istry a revival of very considerable extent took 
place. So far as visible agencies were concerned 
in the production of this revival, it may be attribu- 
ted to Mr. Warner's taking up his residence in the 
place ; his manner of preaching, which was pun- 
gent and rousing, together with his mingling him. 
self much with the people. As many as forty join- 
ed the society as fruits of this revival ; audit is re- 
marked by the older members, that the reformation 
was distinguished by a deep conviction of inherent 
sin, which seemed to lay the foundation for more 
than ordinary humility on the part of the subjects. 
Very few relapsed back to a worldly state. 

A Mr. Lull was associated on the circuit with 
Mr. Warner, and preached more or less in the vil- 
lage. In the beginning of Mr. Warner's ministra- 
tion in the place, in 1822, the Methodist chapel was 
purchased of the Episcopalians, and moved from the 
site of the present Episcopal church to where it 
now stands. The ground of its location with the 
burying place was given gratuitously to the society 
by the Bingham estate, through the agency of Gen. 
Whitney. 

In 1823, the Rev. Horace Agard and the Rer. 
John Sayre were upon the circuit, and the officiating 
ministers in the village. In 1824, Mr. Agard re- 



250 ANNALS OF 

turned, and the Rev. Solon Stocking, who has been 
a resident of the village ever since, was his colleague. 
From this time there were yearly additions made to 
the society, both from beyond the pale of the visible 
church and from those who were received upon let- 
ters from other societies. Mr. Stocking found the 
society composed of about fifty members when he 
came. 

A Mr. Judd succeeded Mr. Agard ; the Rev. Phi- 
lo Barbary succeeded Mr. Judd; and connected 
with Mr. Barbary was the Rev. Benjamin Shipman; 
Mr. Barbary's labors were in 1827 and '8. In '29, 
Mr. Shipman returned. In 1830, the Rev. Silas 
Comfort and the Rev. R. Cushman were appointed 
upon the circuit. In '31 Mr. Comfort and the Rev. 
Nelson Rounds were colleagues. In 1832 and '3, 
the Rev. David A. Shepard was appointed. He had 
no associate, and his labors were confined to the 
village. In 1834 and '5, John S. Mitchell was the 
minister of the society, and his labors were also con- 
fined to the village. In 1836, Hardford Colburn. 
In 1837, H. T. Rowe. In 1838 and '9, Robert 
Fox, an Englishman. The present clergyman is 
Joseph Cross, who was also born in England. Mr. 
Gi'oss joined the church when twelve years old. 
He preached his first sermon when only fifteen. 

In 1830, when the society had augmented to near- 
ly one hundred members, it was found necessary to 
divide, and two or three classes were amicably form- 
ed from the original one. 

At present, in the village and its vicinity, there 



BINGHAMTON. 251 

are about two hundred and fifty members in the 
society, existing in seven classes. 

As has been before remarked, the first church 
formed in the settlement was that of the Baptist or- 
der ; but this became extinct about the year 1800. 
The present Baptist church was constituted in May, 
1829, soon after a very considerable revival of reli- 
gion under the occasional labors of Elder Freder- 
ick, at that time pastor of the Baptist church at the 
Great Bend. To this revival, it might be consid- 
ered, as owing its infant existence. It consisted at 
first of twenty-four members ; four of whom were 
males, and twenty females. John Congdon, jun., 
and Reuben Starkweather were, at the constitution 
of the church, appointed Deacons ; which office, in 
tliat church, they still hold. Immediately upon the 
formation of the church, twenty-eight were added 
by baptism, and several more by letter. 

Elder Frederick's labors having been crowned 
with so much success, was chosen and invited to 
take the pastoral care of the young church. The 
invitation was accepted, and he was installed as 
pastor, and removed to Binghamton. 

In the year 1831, and during the ministry of 
Elder Frederick, the present church edifice was 
erected ; and great credit is said to be due to him, 
for his untiring zeal and perseverance in obtaining 
funds, and otherwise promoting its erection. 

In the winter of 1833-4, there was a revival un- 
der the ministration of the Rev. Jason Corwin, then 
pastor of the church ; which resulted in the addi- 
tion of about fifty members. 



252 ANNALS OF 

In the fall of 1837, there was another very con. 
siderable revival under the preaching of the Rev. 
Jacob Knapp, who spent about a month in Bing- 
hamton ; making one great and protracted effort to 
bring men into the kingdom of the visible church ; 
not appearing to heed with what particular denomi- 
nation they should unite. During his stay, and im- 
mediately subsequent, there were added to this 
church about seventy members. This accession, 
so far as a present judgment may be formed, may 
be said to have placed the Baptist church upon a 
permanent, and — so far as foreign aid is concerned 
— an independent basis. The present number of 
members is one hundred and seventy-nine. 

The more common place of immersion, in early 
times, was in the Chenango river, near Col. Lewis' 
mills. 

The pastors of the church have succeeded each 
other in the following order : Rev's. Michael Fred- 
erick, Jason Corwin, Henry Robertson, Davis Dim- 
mick, William Storrs, and James M. Coley. The 
last of whom is the present pastor. 

The Congregational Church is a recent branch 
from the Presbyterian. It was organized in the 
year 1836, and composed at first of eighteen mem- 
bers ; who had solicited and obtained letters of dis- 
mission from the parent church, for the specific pur- 
pose of forming a new one. 

To the minds of those who first thought of sepa- 
rating and forming a new church and congregation, 
it occurred that the present and anticipated growth 
of the village, together with the present and grow- 



BINGHAMTON. 253 

ing size of the Presbyterian church, would justify 
the separation of a branch, without material preju- 
dice to the former, and with sufficiently encouraging 
prospects to the latter. 

There were other considerations and feehngs, 
however, which more efficiently influenced these 
persons to desire to form a new infant body ; and 
which may be considered the causes that led to the 
separation taking place at that time. 

The different tastes and temperaments in so large 
a body of people as the Presbyterian congregation, 
had begun now to arrange themselves under the two 
great, but diverse, opinions — relating more to mea- 
Bures than to doctrines — which agitated at this time 
the Presbyterian church generally. And as that 
congregation was brought now into immediate con- 
tact with the measures that were approved of by 
the one part, and disapproved of by the other, the 
respective parties found that their approval and dis- 
approval arose to relish and disgust. This sunder- 
ed, in a great measure, the tie of their union, and 
rendered fellowship in such close relations imprac- 
ticable. 

This state of things induced a comparatively 
small minority — the number of about thirty — to de- 
sire a separation from the parent church ; and they 
resolved to take measures, in a friendly and chris- 
tian manner, to accomplish it. 

After being set apart by the ordinary formality, 
Aey were constituted a church by the Rev. John 
Starkweather, as officiating minister, who was im- 
mediately called to be their pastor. Articles of 



254 ANNALS OF 

faith and a church covenant were drawn up and sub- 
scribed by the members ; but not until they had 
been submitted to the parent church for their ap- 
proval. 

Their house of worship was buih the year sue 
ceeding, 1837, by the joint skill and superinten- 
dence of Jonathan Ogden and John Lewis, and was 
dedicated the last of December of that year. On 
the morning of the day in which this house was ded- 
icated, di(^d William H. Pratt, a young gentleman 
of the village, whose views and feelings had been 
coincident with those of the infant church ; and 
with which he had worshipped from the time of its 
separation. The interest he appeared to feel, and 
the zeal he actuallj'- took, in relation to this young 
society was remarkable, as he had not, until a short 
time before his death, made profession of piety. 
His death was honored by its coincidence with the 
dedication of a house of divine worship his zeal had 
helped to build. 

Mr. Starkweather remained the pastor but a very 
short time after the dedication of the house. After 
liim^the Rev. Arthur Burtis was a stated supply 
from November, 1838, to July, 1839. The Rev. 
Samuel W. Bush, is the present pastor. 

There is in the village a Catholic Cathedral, built 
veiy'recently— finished in 1837— but with no settled 
or stated ministry over it. Occasionally divine ser- 
vice is held there ; and uniformly on the Sabbath a 
few conscientious Catholics repair to it, to perform 
the duty of mass. 

There was organized in the village, in January, 



* BINGHAMTON. 256 

1838, a Universalist society also, consisting of about 
fifty members, many of whom, however, do not re- 
side in the village. The officiating minister of the 
society is Charles S. Brown, of Lisle. They have, 
as yet, no edifice, and hold their meetings in the 
court house. 

The present state of the village, with its business 
and resources, is the result of fifty years of ingress 
of inhabitants, both of the country and village, and 
their improvements. In the conclusion of these 
Annals, therefore, it will not be inappropriate to 
give the present aggregate of business, in most of its 
leading branches. This will be briefly done, in 
what may be termed round numbers, without pre- 
tending to minute accuracy. 

The amount of lumber transported to market an- 
nually is about four millions of feet ; about one 
million of this is sawed and sent principally to the 
southern markets by Christopher Eldredge. One 
million, by Gen. Waterman to the eastern markets. 
One million, by Col. Lewis, mostly to southern mar- 
kets. The fourth million, by John D. Smith and 
Lewis Seymour. 

The annual amount of sales for the last year or 
two in the village, of those in the grocery line ex- 
clusively, is $48,000 ; of those in the victualling 
line, $18,500; of merchants in the dry goods and 
groceries together, rising $200,000. The sales of 
those in the drugg business, who, however, unite 
otlier articles of merchandise, are $40,000 ; of iron 
and tin ware, embracing the manufactory of the 
same, $12,000 ; of hardware, exclusively, $12,000 ; 



« 



<v^- ? 



256 ANNALS OF BINGHAMTON. , ■- ♦, , / 

the sales and manufactory of millinery and mantua- 
making, $8,000 ; of the sales and manufactory of 
leather and shoes, $18,500 ; the amount of carriage 
making, $6,000 ; of blacksmithing, rising $4,000 ; 
of watches andjewelry, $4,000 ; of tailoring, $7,500 ; 
of saddlery and harness-making, $8,000. The 
amount of the sales and manufactory of hats and 
caps $5,000 ; of plows manufactured, ^3,500 ; cut- 
ting and sale of marble stone, $3,000 ; of the man- 
ufactory and sale of rifles and guns, $5,000 ; sales 
from the butchers' stall, 8 or $10,000. In the sum- 
mer time, between 3 and 400 bottles of beer made 
per week ; 10,000 lbs. of candles manufactured per 
year ; between 15 and 20 tons of candy manufac- 
tured. The present annual proceeds of the four 
taverns of the village are about $20,000. 

FINIS. 



ERRATA. 

Page 9, 16th line, Us for Mo, 
" 19,5th " trace iox have, 
" 30,8th *• as it was for was it as, 
«« 128, 22d " RoswelUnste^dofJohn, 
« 154, 12th " Lemuel " Samuel. 
M 155, 18th " though ** was. 
" 169, 22d *• the other " another, 
" 214, 4th " 1824 " 1827. 

" 215, 15th " 1837 " 1829. 

•* 232, 3d from bottom, Westchester county la- 
•tead of Connecticut, 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 




014 222 168 8 



